Taking place on the first official day of the mayoral campaign, all of the major candidates will join a mayoral hustings hosted by Pride in London and chaired by ITV Political Correspondent Paul Brand.
The debate will be centred on Pride in London’s political pledge and offers the LGBT+ community a unique opportunity to grill the candidates ahead of the election on 5 May.
Pride in London’s Pledge for Politicians calls for specific actions in three key areas: safety, health, and visibility for LGBT+ Londoners.
Proposals include:
• Raising awareness and improving reporting mechanisms around hate crimes against LGBT+ people in London
• Including same-sex relationship education in all London schools, and developing better approaches to dealing with domestic abuse in same-sex relationships
• Making healthcare services, particularly around sexual health, HIV prevention and mental health problems, more accessible for LGBT+ Londoners
The event will be held at The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL, Monday 21 March.
The Panel includes:
• Sian Berry, Green Party
• Zac Goldsmith, Conservative Party
• Sadiq Khan, Labour Party
• Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrats
• Sophie Walker, Women’s Equality Party
• Peter Whittle, UKIP
Paul Brand, Chair of the Mayoral Hustings said: “The LGBT+ community is a significant sector of the London electorate – perhaps more so than in any other part of the UK. Our votes matter just as much as anyone else’s, and I look forward to asking the candidates the questions that voters want answered, so that we can hear what each of them has to offer.”
Stephen Ward, Deputy Chair of Pride in London added: “Growing numbers of London’s politicians, including the Labour and Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Party candidates for mayor, have signed our Pledge which calls for specific actions to be taken in the key areas of health, personal safety and equal treatment to improve life for LGBT+ Londoners. This hustings will give the LGBT+ community a chance to grill each of the main candidates on issues specific to the LGBT+ community and others that are important to all Londoners. This is a key plank of Pride in London’s mission to provide a platform for the LGBT+ community to make its voices heard and those who cannot attend in person can take part on Twitter.”
To stand for mayor, candidates have until 31 March to come up with at least 10 nominations from each of London’s 33 boroughs, as well as a £10,000 deposit, forfeited if they fail to get 5% of the first choices under the supplementary vote system.
Londoners can vote in the election only if they are over the age of 18, register to vote by 18 April and live in London.
