The London Liberal Democrat Election Broadcast

Here we have the Liberal Democrat election broadcast for the London elections. See what you think then read our thoughts;

What about the policies?

The first thing to say is where are the policies on transport, cycling, fares, inequality, climate change, green spaces, wages, the fire service, air pollution, youth, empty homes, rogue landlords, waste, arts, the economy or kids. Where are they? The Lib Dems have policies on all this stuff and actually quite a lot of their policy ideas are pretty good, so where are they?

We’re being told that there are over four thousand premature deaths due to air pollution in this city. That seems important enough to mention doesn’t it?

For those of you who don’t know Brian Paddick used to be a police officer. He doesn’t mention it much so why would you know? But he was and so, for some reason, this means the Liberal Democrats have to be turned into a single issue party for this election. Why don’t they rename themselves the “We’re all going to get burgled!” party and have done with it?

Ken Livingstone used to work in an animal experimentation lab and break the necks of rats with a pencil (true fact). Does Labour feel the need to focus on their rat killing policies? A patriotic pencil of death for every school leaver? No. Do the Conservatives focus on the fact that Boris was a, uumm, that he used to… actually, what did Boris do? He can’t of just been getting drunk and smashing windows until now, surely.

Policing Policies

So let’s talk policing, as they’ve not given us anything else to talk about.

Let’s talk about the line “I want to see them on the streets with bin bags or painting over their graffiti or something.” Shall we?

The desire for petty revenge, acted out in front of you so you have a visible person to vilify and deride, is neither helpful nor liberal. The prison sentences being handed down to those involved in the riots are, with some exceptions, disproportionately harsh. The idea that there is no action on this or that rioters are going unpunished just flies in the face of reality.

I’d also say that if my wall was knocked over by one of those ferals you hear so much about I’d want it repaired by a skilled bricky, not the unskilled youth who has no idea about which end of a trowel to use. You break it, you fix it *sounds* just, but it’s hardly fair if you get your window smashed in and then its replaced by someone who doesn’t have the first clue about glazing.

The principle of getting offenders to do useful, constructive things is sound enough but this desire for it to be some form of public humiliation or has to be directly linked to the offense, this is just populism. What’s the point of having an experienced police officer running for office if you just get a series of ideas from the pub bore?

The theme of fear and danger is a nasty one to be honest. The rate of conviction for rape is shockingly low but a bald statement that “if I was Mayor I would make sure the police locked up more rapists” doesn’t deal with any of the issues as to *why* it is so low, nor *how* more rapists will be convicted of the offenses they have committed. It just feeds the idea that police officers don’t care about rape, which is not the case.

However, it’s not your standard Labour or Conservative law and order message because it contains a bold and extremely critical message about the police. First, that they stood and watched the riots taking place without taking any action, which is something many Londoners think because they saw it with their own eyes. Second, that police use stop and search on people “just because you’re black” which is something many black Londoners think, because that’s the way it feels and the stats back it up.

I think the Lib Dems should be congratulated for that message.

The corrupt club house atmosphere between the press, the police and the political class has to stop. While it’s surprising they’ve taken such a straight-forward approach to these issues more politicians should be this brave. While others are simply wrangling about police numbers or, shudder, putting police in schools the Lib Dems are saying something quite fundamental. In essence, if you put a racist or corrupt cop in a school you’re hurting those kids, not helping them.

Style?

In general I’d say that the mayoral candidate is not meant to be more wooden than the “ordinary people” in the election broadcast. However, Thunderbirds was very popular and they were puppets, so who knows?

Most people won’t consciously notice this but there is a background of “inspiring” music while the people are speaking which stops after Paddick begins to speak. That only adds to the flatness of his tone and is a subtle but fundamentally flawed decision for the film makers to make.

While this is very similar in style to Labour’s broadcast and well shot, the Lib Dems are missing a trick by not making more use of Caroline Pidgeon, their lead candidate for the Assembly. Paddick has said it himself that people should not forget that the Assembly elections are taking place at the same time and it’s vital for the Lib Dems that voters use their orange ballot paper for the Lib Dems if none other. Showing you have an experienced and charismatic lead candidate would be invaluable.

It also would have made the Mayoral candidate look more rounded and collegiate compared to the grumpy willy waving contest taking place right now. Pidgeon would make a refreshing change to the sausage fest of the two major candidates. She’s also, well, ummm, there’s no polite way of saying this, more articulate, intelligent and interesting than Brian – and as such has to be seen as an asset. But we see almost nothing of her and she certainly is not allowed a speaking role.

Shame.

All in all pretty awful politically, with a Mayoral candidate that sounds more like a Johnny-cab 2000 than a national level politician, but it’s not entirely bad with its brave decision to be critical of the police and stylistically strong, at least while the ordinary Londoners are given their say.