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Paddick slams 'nasty' Livingstone Paddick slams 'nasty' Livingstone
(10 minutes later)
Lib Dem mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick has launched a personal attack on his Labour rival Ken Livingstone, calling him a "nasty little man".Lib Dem mayoral hopeful Brian Paddick has launched a personal attack on his Labour rival Ken Livingstone, calling him a "nasty little man".
Mr Paddick told the Evening Standard the mayor was "very unpleasant" and treated all critics with "contempt".Mr Paddick told the Evening Standard the mayor was "very unpleasant" and treated all critics with "contempt".
The former police commander said Tory candidate Boris Johnson was "somewhat eccentric" but "harmless".The former police commander said Tory candidate Boris Johnson was "somewhat eccentric" but "harmless".
Mr Livingstone, who is running for a third term as mayor, claims London is more successful than ever under him.Mr Livingstone, who is running for a third term as mayor, claims London is more successful than ever under him.
Mr Paddick, the former Lambeth police commander who pioneered a "softly softly" approach to cannabis, told the newspaper Mr Livingstone had tried to set up a "socialist republic" at City Hall and accused him of cronyism.Mr Paddick, the former Lambeth police commander who pioneered a "softly softly" approach to cannabis, told the newspaper Mr Livingstone had tried to set up a "socialist republic" at City Hall and accused him of cronyism.
'Personal agendas''Personal agendas'
He said the mayor relied on a close circle of left wing advisers and had stopped listening to Londoners.He said the mayor relied on a close circle of left wing advisers and had stopped listening to Londoners.
He added: "Do you want somebody who is a really nasty little man in the shape of Ken Livingstone, very unpleasant and rather nasty, or somebody who just appears to be somewhat eccentric but otherwise really harmless as an individual, except I wouldn't trust him to run anything for me?"He added: "Do you want somebody who is a really nasty little man in the shape of Ken Livingstone, very unpleasant and rather nasty, or somebody who just appears to be somewhat eccentric but otherwise really harmless as an individual, except I wouldn't trust him to run anything for me?"
He said he had considered a Conservative approach to run for them but "on principle" could not stand for "what the Conservatives stand for".He said he had considered a Conservative approach to run for them but "on principle" could not stand for "what the Conservatives stand for".
Mr Paddick, who has put himself forward as the "serious candidate" for London mayor, has pledged to act on voters' priorities not "personal agendas".Mr Paddick, who has put himself forward as the "serious candidate" for London mayor, has pledged to act on voters' priorities not "personal agendas".
Mr Livingstone's office was not available for comment. But the mayor says he keeps in touch with Londoners' concerns by taking the Tube to work and says he is the "mayor for all Londoners".Mr Livingstone's office was not available for comment. But the mayor says he keeps in touch with Londoners' concerns by taking the Tube to work and says he is the "mayor for all Londoners".
He has also accused the Evening Standard of being out to get him and of "doing one last heave to get rid of me".He has also accused the Evening Standard of being out to get him and of "doing one last heave to get rid of me".
A Guardian/ICM poll last week put Mr Paddick's support at 10%, giving Mr Johnson 42% and Mr Livingstone 41%. A sample of 1,002 adults was interviewed from 28 March to 1 April. A YouGov survey for the Standard on Monday suggested Conservative candidate Boris Johnson was on course to get 45% of first preference votes, Mr Livingstone on 39% and Mr Paddick on 12%. A sample of 1,031 people were polled via the internet between 9 and 11 April.