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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Opik 'won't run for London mayor' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik says he has no intention of standing to be the party's candidate for mayor of London. | |
| Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell's chief of staff, prompted the speculation after saying he thought that Mr Opik would make a good mayor. | |
| The Montgomeryshire MP, best known for dating one of the Cheeky Girls, replied that he was "flattered... Me, Boris and Ken would be a splendid contest". | |
| But he later told the BBC that he had decided against entering the race. | |
| The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own Lembit Opik Analysis: Wacky races? | The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own Lembit Opik Analysis: Wacky races? |
| The idea of Lembit Opik standing was initially put to Mr Davey in an interview with ePolitix.com. | |
| Mr Davey said: "Lembit is a good friend of mine, I share an office with him, and if he decided to run he would certainly make one of the most interesting candidates in the race. | Mr Davey said: "Lembit is a good friend of mine, I share an office with him, and if he decided to run he would certainly make one of the most interesting candidates in the race. |
| "Would Lembit make a good mayor? I think that Lembit would make a much better mayor than Boris Johnson or Ken Livingston." | "Would Lembit make a good mayor? I think that Lembit would make a much better mayor than Boris Johnson or Ken Livingston." |
| Independent win | Independent win |
| Later, Mr Opik said: "It's ever so flattering. If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away. | Later, Mr Opik said: "It's ever so flattering. If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away. |
| "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own." | "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own." |
| Boris Johnson is likely to be the Conservative Party candidate | Boris Johnson is likely to be the Conservative Party candidate |
| Mr Opik, who has been Lib Dem spokesman on Northern Ireland and is currently spokesman on business, has had a long-term interest in the risk to Earth from meteorites. | Mr Opik, who has been Lib Dem spokesman on Northern Ireland and is currently spokesman on business, has had a long-term interest in the risk to Earth from meteorites. |
| But he has filled many tabloid pages over the past year as a result of the ending of his engagement to weather presenter Sian Lloyd and subsequent relationship with Gabriela Irimia from the Cheeky Girls. | But he has filled many tabloid pages over the past year as a result of the ending of his engagement to weather presenter Sian Lloyd and subsequent relationship with Gabriela Irimia from the Cheeky Girls. |
| If he were to enter the race the Lib Dems are drawing up a shortlist in September with a final choice expected later in the year. | If he were to enter the race the Lib Dems are drawing up a shortlist in September with a final choice expected later in the year. |
| However he later told the BBC that he did not want to enter the London mayoral race. | |
| He said he was "very flattered by the outpouring of affection" to convince him to run, but his first priority was to his Mid-Wales constituency | |
| Boris Johnson | |
| He pointed out with his work as the Liberal Democrats' Business and Enterprise spokesman, and as MP for Montgomeryshire, meant he did not think he "can fit in running the capital". | |
| Current mayor Mr Livingstone famously won his first term as an independent after being expelled from the Labour Party. | Current mayor Mr Livingstone famously won his first term as an independent after being expelled from the Labour Party. |
| He has since rejoined Labour and won his second term as the official Labour candidate and is to stand again next year as the Labour candidate. | He has since rejoined Labour and won his second term as the official Labour candidate and is to stand again next year as the Labour candidate. |
| The Conservatives have yet to decide on their candidate, but the well-known ex-Spectator editor and Tory MP Boris Johnson is the favourite to win the race to be their candidate. | The Conservatives have yet to decide on their candidate, but the well-known ex-Spectator editor and Tory MP Boris Johnson is the favourite to win the race to be their candidate. |
| Mr Johnson now faces a Tory selection process including open primaries where any Londoner on the electoral register can vote. | Mr Johnson now faces a Tory selection process including open primaries where any Londoner on the electoral register can vote. |
| The others on the shortlist are Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot - all party activists. | The others on the shortlist are Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot - all party activists. |