The Other Candidates - Paddick

Brian Paddick started his speech by complimenting Boris on being by far the best entertainer, before going on to say that he didn't have any experience of actually running anything except the spectator.
Paddick's theme was very simple and he kept returning to it. I liked the simplicity and the structure. But at times it did sound more like a job interview. He just doesn't have that x-factor that a potential mayor is going to need. Yes he sounded competent, but he needed more.
His message was that he had demonstrated by his police career that he is able to deliver succesful results and that he has lots of experience. His promise was to listen to Londoners, like he had done when he was a police commisioner.
He said that crime was his number one issue, which you would hope and expect from an ex police officer! And on this issue he was able to savage Ken's figures with a lot more authority than Boris has/can manage. He spoke about the public's dwindling confidence in the police and quoted from the British Crime Survey and you believed that he knew what he was talking about. I'd vote for him for head of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
I did like the fact that he was pressing for more local control over police by local authorities and he did make an interesting point that police are always going to have to do more paperwork, so the best solution is to hire keyboard operators to input the paperwork more efficiently. He also criticsed the PCSOs saying that they were as much use as you or I. Yes and no, Yes they are just as powerful as you or I, but they have specifically stepped up to take on this responsibility. We should be encouraging more of this sort of personal investment, be it as PCSOs or other voluntary action that benefits the communities of London.
He ended by critising Boris's plans as being based on a 'magic wand' approach, which he said he was more practical. He also lambasted Boris for not knowing more about London and only knowing about the Henley Regatta. Critcisms that seemed weak and half hearted, as if he had to put something in to challenge his main opponent.
Paddick tried to make a few other points during the questions that followed, but largely remained on the outside of the battle between Ken and Boris.
One of the last questions was which book would you choose to guide you if you were Mayor. Paddick answered this obliquely by saying that there were rulebooks and that he intended to throw it away and listen to the people instead. He described the rulebook as ideology. Interesting sentiments from a one time upholder of the law.
In the press room afterwards I noticed that Ken and Paddick were there first. Ken quaffing wine usually with a couple of jornos or PRs. Paddick was looking around for people to speak to (there were only about 30 people in the room or so) . Boris marched in and was immediatley surrounded by a coterie of women journalists before being glad handed around the room. Encouraged by my fiance I went up to the big man and re-itereated my support. He thanked me and then moved onto a photo opportunity with a person I didn't recognise. It was interesting to note how the assembled journalists gravitated.
Boris left in a flash of PRs almost as soon as he had left. It felt like a well managed exit. Waiting on the tube platform we saw Paddick waiting by himself. Presumably Ken was still quaffing wine at the Standard's expense late into the night and Boris was cycling home.