Sep 02, 2007News: Retired Gay Officer May Run For Mayor
By Sven Rabatzky
(UK) - Brian Paddick, Britains most known former Gay senior Metropolitan Police officer has announced he is thinking about running for mayor of London. Brian Paddick is an ex-deputy Assistant Commissioner who left his job in May 2007, said he is considering standing for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming elections. Mr Paddick retired from his office after differences with Commissioner Sir Ian Blair over the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes in July, 2005. The Brazilian immigrant was mistaken for a terrorist and shot dead by police officers in an underground train in Stockwell, south London.
Mr Paddick said that he was surprised by Mr Livingstone's "complete support" for police even after the shooting of the innocent man.
"I am a little bit concerned that the mayor, rather than being an unequivocal supporter of the commissioner and the Metropolitan Police, should actually be a critical friend.”
The retired officer also admitted he was tempted by the prospect of taking on Mr Livingstone and Boris Johnson, who could be the Tory mayoral candidate.
"They are both formidable in their very different ways and it is a very big decision to take on these giants in that sort of competition," Mr Paddick said said.
However, he was not entirely sure whether or not he will actually participate in the rat race:
"Nominations don't open until September and I am still thinking about whether I should go for that or not."
