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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."