Ah, come on, give Simon Hughes another roll of the dice, where’s the harm?

Isn’t Brian Paddick being lined up for this?

Steve Hitchins would make a wonderful choice. We’ll let Suz stand for the Conservatives. Now that would be fun!

“Brian Paddick is a serving police officer”

I think I’ve read on the press that he would be eligible for a pension next year, so if he wants to quit police, he will be able to do so.

Actually I would suggest Sarah Ludford, but since she’s currently a MEP, I suppose she’ll count as an MP. I believe she won’t be able to stand again for EU Parliament next time (because she’s a Peer and the dual mandate has been abolished). Already representing London, she could have used the next 2 year to promote herself.

Let us never forget that the Tories were all geared up and ready to run with (Lord) Jeffrey Archer, before Ted Francis spiked their balloon. “I am convinced this is a man of honour and integrity” – W Hague. If Archer actually had been the candidate, imagine what prats they would have made of themselves! The Lib Dem Mayoral candidate needs to be someone with solid local government experience who knows about strategic planning, has name recognition, and a bit of non-partisan appeal. Can’t think of anyone off the top of my head. Sarah Ludford, perhaps. Steve Hitchins, if you want a strike. Maybe a well-known media figure. If I were a Tory power-broker, I would be talking to Max Hastings. But they won’t have Hastings, because he is too independent minded. What about Simon Jenkins? He’s for dynamiting Centre Point. But no political party will ever have Jenkins, because he doesn’t have a slot in his back for the key. Does Portillo still have the energy?

We’ll let Suz stand for the Conservatives. Now that would be fun!
It certainly would! :rubs hands at prospect:

Sandi Toksvig is a minor TV personality, and a very accomplished one. But does she have the remotest idea how to run a statutory corporation? What does she know about public transport, strategic planning, waste management, the fire service, policing, etc? If her CV landed on the desk in the HR Department, those are the first questions that would be asked. The next query would concern her management skills. Does she have a track record of getting difficult people to work together? Can she handle a hostile, intrusive, mendacious media? This is a job only for those with the toughest of hides. Sandi Toksvig would be better off as a backbench MP.

The Lib Dems do have people capable of doing the job. Trouble is, all have low profiles. I’m talking of people like Lord Tope and Baroness Hamwee; and Mike Tuffrey. Even David Williams and Serge Lourie. I would certainly be happy to see Sarah Ludford nominated. She does have local government experience, and is intimately familiar with political processes. She also has some name recognititon, though I have no idea how much.

Those who must never be nominated under ANY circumstance: Steve Hitchins and Mark Oaten, in that order. (Recall what Steve Norris said about Jeffrey Archer and apply those words to the afforementioned.)