Gavin’s Gaily Gigest

I stayed up well past my bedtime last night to catch the first London Mayoral debate on ITV’s London Talking, hosted by the over-expressive Konnie Huq. My satellite signal was down, meaning I couldn’t catch the erotic spank-fest Secretary on Film4, but the programme was interesting nonetheless.

It followed a faux-hustings format, with each candidate allotted a fifteen minute segment in which to introduce themselves and then be subjected to a verbal mauling from the other two candidates and the audience disguised as a question and answer session.

The LibDems own Brian Paddick was up first, suffering from a severe case of DWB, not the offence of "Driving Whilst Black", which I’m sure he’s enforced on so many occasions, but Dull & Worthy Brian. I fear it’s a chronic case, if not fatal to his campaign. Still, he knew what he was talking about, and I’d certainly trust him as Mayor of London, he just lacks that certain something: Charisma. His diminutive frame and soft voice also make it hard to believe that he commanded police officers on the mean streets of south London. Boris Johnson’s first question raised a smile, almost inevitably being about bendy buses – I could almost hear Rory Bremner’s impersonation drifting through.

Ken Livingstone’s turn next, and he came out it quite well, projecting an image of competence, with a handle on the figures and a clear recitation of his achievements (capitalising on the inherent advantage an incumbent has). He’s obviously a consummate and professional politician and Boris Johnson and his supporters probably helped Ken by trying to shout him down at every opportunity.

Writing of which, it was the blonde thatched Thatcher-lite’s turn by now, and I swear he didn’t blink throughout his introductory speech – like a parliamentary researcher caught in the alluring gaze of Lembit Opik. Boris banged on about wanting not to divide and rule (as he implied Ken had done), but bring Londoners together. This seemed an odd message for him to push that evening, as he was by far and away the most bullying candidate in the debates. He also really tripped up on the experience question from Paddick, being able to point only to his time as editor of the Spectator.

Of course the whole thing was incredibly tribal, not helped by the small audience consisting entirely of rabid supporters for the three men (or not, as the case may be), and as a result it almost certainly turned off anyone only half interested in politics. Let’s hope the BBC run a special Question Time with a larger, less partisan audience, with stricter rules for the candidates.

Other Lib Dem reactions:

• Jonathan Fryer.
• Duncan Borrowman.