Siobhan Benita, from New Malden, claims her lack of ‘political baggage’ offers a fresh option to people a month ahead of the vote.
By William Turvill, Ryan Walters & Helen Wright
Siobhan Benita, from New Malden, claims her lack of ‘political baggage’ offers a fresh option to people a month ahead of the vote.
At a campaign rally last week, Ms Benita blasted both Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone, calling them ‘BorKen’.
Ms Benita claims they represent the same outdated political parties and believes voters have lost faith in traditional party politicians.
After the sensational upset in the Bradford West by-election Ms Benita believes that running as a candidate without party backing puts her in a strong position.
“As an independent Mayor I won’t be restrained by party-political positions,” she said.
“Candidates like me are more in touch with what people really want.”
Rival Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate, expressed his views on the importance of allying with a political party.
“In politics, as in life, society and sport, I believe that we have to work together as a team in order to get things done. We join the team that is closest to our set of beliefs and in my case this is the Liberal Democrats,” he said.
“Liberals believe in the freedom of the individual and in giving every individual the best opportunities in life, not least through education.”
On the day the first official broadcast on the Mayoral debate was held, rival candidates outlined their key policies – gaining vital publicity.
Ms Benita was denied the privilege of appearing due to the current broadcasting rules, restricting independents’ exposure.
SW Londoner asked voters in Wimbledon their views on the candidates and voting for an independent candidate.
Sedat Suleyman Oryagci, 51, said: “Honestly, I wouldn’t vote independent because I don’t think they’d know what they were doing.”
Dan Frank, 24, said: “I think there has been a general decline in the public’s trust in larger party politicians but I don’t know who I’ll vote for.”
With the race expected to be closely fought between Ken and Boris, Ms Benita thinks a change is needed.
“They are like two peas in the same pod, I say BorKen is now BroKen,” she said.
