This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7366662.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| O'Connor pulls out of mayor race | O'Connor pulls out of mayor race |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| English Democrats candidate Matt O'Connor says he has halted his campaign 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. |
| But his name will still appear on ballot papers as they have been printed - and many postal votes have already been cast in the 1 May contest. | |
| 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 stop campaigning with less than a week to go before polling day, Mr O'Connor said he had been unhappy with the lack of coverage he was getting from the media. | Explaining his decision to stop campaigning with less than a week to go before polling day, Mr O'Connor said he had been unhappy with the lack of coverage he was getting from the media. |
| 'Frustrated' | 'Frustrated' |
| 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. | 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. |
| With the benefit of hindsight I probably should not have stood for them Matt O'Connor, former English Democrat candidate | |
| "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." | |
| The marketing consultant was approached by the English Democrats to run for them in the mayoral race after journalist Garry Bushell pulled out. | |
| He said he had been flattered to be asked 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." | |
| Mr O'Connor's election agent and English Democrats' London regional chairman, Steve Uncles, said the candidate had been "frustrated" by the lack of coverage, after paying the £10,000 deposit needed to enter the race. | Mr O'Connor's election agent and English Democrats' London regional chairman, Steve Uncles, said the candidate had been "frustrated" by the lack of coverage, after paying the £10,000 deposit needed to enter the race. |
| But, he added, Mr O'Connor's name would still be on the ballot paper as the deadline for nominations had passed. | But, he added, Mr O'Connor's name would still be on the ballot paper as the deadline for nominations had passed. |
| "The only way he can actually resign is if he dies," said Mr Uncles. | "The only way he can actually resign is if he dies," said Mr Uncles. |
| Mr Uncles said the party had "never expected to get him elected" and would now concentrate its efforts on the London Assembly elections, where it hoped to achieve the 5% of the vote needed to gain a seat. | Mr Uncles said the party had "never expected to get him elected" and would now concentrate its efforts on the London Assembly elections, where it hoped to achieve the 5% of the vote needed to gain a seat. |