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O'Connor pulls out of mayor race | O'Connor pulls out of mayor race |
(10 minutes later) | |
English Democrats candidate Matt O'Connor has pulled out of the contest to be London mayor. | English Democrats candidate Matt O'Connor has pulled out of the contest to be London mayor. |
Mr O'Connor told BBC London he fell out with the party leadership over campaign funding and tactics. | Mr O'Connor told BBC London he fell out with the party leadership over campaign funding and tactics. |
The marketing consultant was approached by the English Democrats to run for them in the mayoral race after journalist Garry Bushell pulled out. | The marketing consultant was approached by the English Democrats to run for them in the mayoral race after journalist Garry Bushell pulled out. |
Mr O'Connor is best known as the founder and spokesman for the campaigning group Fathers 4 Justice. | Mr O'Connor is best known as the founder and spokesman for the campaigning group Fathers 4 Justice. |
Explaining his decision to drop out of the mayoral race with less than a week to go before polling day, Mr O'Connor said he had been unhappy with the party's approach to campaigning. | |
He told presenter Vanessa Feltz: "We've just had St George's Day and you would just think the one thing a party about England would own would be St George's Day. | |
"But I don't think they got any publicity at all and I was effectively sidelined. I think they thought I was going to take over the party or something." | |
He said he had been flattered to be asked to stand for the party when Mr Bushell dropped out, but added: "It's an awful situation to be in, but probably with the benefit of hindsight I probably should not have stood for them. I should have checked them out a bit more." |