Lembit Opik wants to replace Boris as London mayor
Thursday 5th August 2010, 1:30PM BST.
Former Mid Wales Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik today confirmed that he would run for London Mayor – despite an apparent plot by party chiefs to line up an alternative candidate.
Mr Opik, who was out and about in London last night with glamorous model Katie Green, said he had the profile and the leadership qualities needed to run the capital city.
Mr Opik said: “I’m left-wing and libertarian and so is London. I have one of the highest profiles in our party. Boris Johnson has proved that people in London like high-profile politicians to serve as mayor.
“I think I have the profile that the job needs and the qualities required to serve Londoners well.”
Mr Opik was speaking following an evening out last night at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, where he was joined by Ms Green to watch a performance of Tanguera.
Mr Opik’s plans to become Mayor of London face a tough challenge after Liberal Democrat party chiefs apparently lined up children’s TV star Floella Benjamin as their candidate.
The former Play School and Play Away presenter is a long-standing Lib Dem and was recently made a peer.
Mr Opik said he would “not take kindly” to any hint of interference by party officials actively seeking an “alternative candidate”.
He added: “I am confident that I can get the nominations. I am well-known. I think the party would be wise to select a well-known and colourful figure.”
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But your own party doesn’t even want you to run.
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ok lembit. Just stop.
Cheeky girl-sooooo Funny.
Glasto- Funny (well,not funny..get me?)
nearly 300k Miles on your old car- Funny.
Slagging off people in the north to me-shocking
Mayor of London??…
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Talk about desperate for the limelight !
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Please Lempit do not get in the way of a serious vote, the Mayor of London matters and your not the one in any way.
You had a good ride in Mid Wales, noted that is was a Lib stronghold for donkeys years, but that does not mean that you have the skill or the personality for the role.
Please have the dignity to back off and do something useful elsewhere not use something so very important (especially with 2012) be spoilt by a silly TV stunt.
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Opik, get an optic and read the writing on the wall
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Oh, dear me, no.
If your own people rejected you, why would the people of London want you?
That sounded harsher than I meant it.
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The lib dems should stop this joke from going too far, it’s been long enough already. Get a proper job, Lembit.
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Mr opik states that ` I have one of the highest profiles in our party`, may be so, but not for the job as a politician, plus even the party you stood for don`t want you to stand.
So, When are you finally going to get the message.!!!!
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Has he ever a had a real job? What gives him the belief that he can represent 7 million Londoners just because he dated a Cheeky girl and was engaged to a weather girl.
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Dont forget he appeared on “Have I Got News for you” a few times too, so that must make him a bit of a celeb.
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cheeky boy
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Somebody put him out of his misery, sad man.
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as if boris isnt embarassing enough shame on the whole country for ever voting in either of these bumpkins, you get what you deserve
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As a Londoner (in shrewsbury, so no vote!) let me tell him he’s got no chance..
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