Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign

rwendland Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:03:21 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Brian Paddick is making a few quid out of the Daily Mail by dishing the dirt from his campaign diary. Worth reading for some light entertainment, though he does himself no credit in one or two places by stepping beyond the acceptable in releasing private conversations - I guess the money being offered was too good. Perhaps he was hoping to regain some self-esteem for a lamentable campaign by criticising the LibDem party machine. Safe to say, Paddick won't be a LibDem candidate again, from both sides' point of view.





Only comment I spotted that might be of real significance was: 

Meeting with Seb Coe to discuss 2012 Olympics. Have seen unimpressive site and met unimpressive team, so am more interested in his tips for running the London Marathon.

Just hope he is wrong on this one.

HatTip: Iain Dale 

Update: Chris Paul has a different take on the MoS story, pointing out Paddick is out supporting the LibDems in Crewe:

Paddick in Crewe 

Has Paddick had a change of heart since writing "Some people have asked if I'll run for Parliament now. It's as likely as me running another marathon. Not for anyone."?



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Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#1)

by swatantra on Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:53:05 PM GMT

Where next for Paddick? He's a copper through and through. I can't see him turning his hand to anything else.


Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#2)

by jkitleft on Sun May 11, 2008 at 09:55:27 PM GMT

Note on Boris:

Zero-tolerance politics don't work. The case of Giuliani, is well, a lie.

Under David Dinkins, murder rates fell by 14%, car theft by 24%. The overall fall in crime was based on factors beyond his control. One was the fall in unemployment. One was the global economic boom, after the end of the Cold War. The other was huge investment in police computers.

I hate to say it, but 'softer' policies on crime, work far better than conservative 'tough luck' policies. It is a visceral response from the public to 'zero tolerance' and 'heavy discipline' that assumes that crime will fall because of draconian policies. Labour chancellors make great home secretaries. There is a correlation, with the levels of crime and inequality. The way I know this is true, is because it is. The miracle of San Francisco is not mentioned. They diverted money towards drug treatment, job training, and counselling. Crime fell by 33%. In new York, crime fell by 26%, and most of that was under a Democratic mayor.


As you can tell, I am missing Red ken already. here's an anecdote that should make you laugh. My eldest sister was born in 1982. She had a teddy bear, for some reason who she named 'Ken'. My mum was working at the GLC at the time. Consequenlty, she had a teddy bear named 'Red Ken'


Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#3)

by swatantra on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:13:52 PM GMT

jk, I think you're missing the point. Its the perception that the public have that zero tolerance actually works. You are probably right, it doesn't have much effect on reducing the overall crime rate. But if the public out there think it is working and feel better for it, then let them think it. After all, they in the end are going to have to pay for the extra policing, the pcso's and the wardens on the street. We must gain the confidence and trust of the public again. If they see more police on the beat they will feel eassured, probably unaware that the thugs, hooligans and robbers having got wise, are doing a job a mile away, where the police presence is absent.


[ Parent ]

Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#5)

by jkitleft on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:25:50 PM GMT

But there are far more effective ways to tackle crime. First, befor introducing policemen and women, you have to tackle inequality, unemployment etc. You can tackle the criminal underworld by legalising drugs. You cannot take liberties with the public by introducing placebos.


[ Parent ]

Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#4)

by Anonymous X on Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:28:15 PM GMT

As a criminology graduate I can vouch for everything you mention about crime. Giuliani was a complete failure.


[ Parent ]

Re: Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign (#6)

by Al on Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:53:34 PM GMT

I've heard this about Guiliani before, can someone post some evidence links?

Also - an irony about having more police on the beat is that when people see police wandering about their neighbourhood they actually feel LESS safe, because they realise 'why are the police wandering around my area?'

I think I read that when I was a student in Nottingham, and the surge in gun crime caused a lot of police on the street in certain areas. I admit I have no evidence on hand to back it up though.


Paddick's diary on the LibDem campaign | 6 comments (6 topical)