I must suggest to the Met Police Commissioner that, if he hands out free cannabis, the crime rate will plummet
Published 15 May 2000
It is one week before the London elections. I am standing for the assembly as an Independent green/left candidate. Starting with nothing a month ago, I now have a campaign headquarters - a desk and a phone in the corner of a friend's office - plus a campaign team of two. Overcoming the odds is my trademark. Why change the habit of a lifetime? Canvassing is great fun, but the feedback is not good. Seven out of ten people don't know that I am standing for election. There have been only two news reports about my campaign in the national press during the past five weeks. Of the 30 per cent who know that I'm a candidate, half think that I'm running for mayor. "I'd love to vote for you, but I'm backing Ken" is a frequent comment. Two-thirds of the people I meet are unaware of the assembly election and do not understand the new voting system. I am spending more time explaining the election procedure than outlining my policies. The public information adverts and media coverage have one- sidedly focused on the mayoral race, to the neglect of the assembly.
The press keep ignoring my campaign, which is worrying. Early voting began on 27 April. I was the first person to vote, marking my four crosses and putting my voting papers into the ballot box 30 seconds after the polls opened at 7am. The Evening Standard was there with a reporter and photographer, but nothing appeared in the paper. The day before, Islamic fundamentalists denouncing homosexuals broke up an election meeting in Stepney where I was speaking. The other speakers were mentioned in news reports, but not the main object of the fundamentalists' wrath - moi!
Running late, as ever, I cycle furiously along Victoria Street to New Scotland Yard. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, has agreed to meet me. What a pleasant change of circumstances. Instead of being arrested by the police over some outrageous protest, I am taking tea with the top cop. With barely a moment's hesitation, Sir John welcomes my idea of a comprehensive hate-crimes inquiry - along the lines of the Macpherson report, but with a wider remit to tackle violence against homosexuals, women and religious minorities, as well as black people. I am impressed with his informality and openness. This is a commissioner I can do business with. Sir John also has sympathy for my proposed "watch and report" community safety force, which would patrol the streets and take over routine police duties such as home security advice. This would help solve the police manpower shortage and free officers to concentrate on fighting serious crime.
But even Sir John, bless him, splutters into his cup of tea when I suggest that the police should arrest President Mugabe on charges of torture next time he comes to Britain. It should not be left to me to stage a citizen's arrest, like I did last October. I explain that the police have a legal obligation to apprehend torturers under Section 134 of the 1988 Criminal Justice Act. Sir John smiles diplomatically and advises me to pursue the matter with the Attorney-General. And I will. If I have my way, Mugabe will not escape justice like Pinochet did.
I am on the phone to a reporter from the Evening Standard. He loves my idea of enabling Londoners to walk or cycle from Whitehall to Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate without crossing a single road. The three-mile parkway would connect St James's Park with Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Semi-wooded, with dedicated walking and cycling tracks, it would create a continuous car-free route from the heart of London westwards. I even suggest a name - the Sylvia Pankhurst Parkway.
Election night. I arrive at the count at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre just after midnight - and wait. Dust has brought democracy to its knees, with the poll result endlessly delayed. At 4am, I abandon hope and go home to bed. Seven hours later, I return for the final declaration. Good news: Ken and the Greens win. Bad news: I lose. On the bright side, I received 22,862 votes - out-polling four of the mayoral candidates who had far greater media exposure. I also won more votes than five of the party slates, which were backed by much bigger and better-funded campaign teams.
There is the consolation that the Greater London Authority may eventually adopt some of my policies: car-free Sundays in the West End, a million new trees to soak up pollution, and trams as a low- cost way to extend the tube network to those parts of London without Underground services.
It is a glorious summer's day. With Ken as Mayor, even the weather is better. At last, after the gruelling demands of the election campaign, I can relax and enjoy some politics with fun: the exuberant "Legalise Cannabis!" march. The crowd is high on the buzz of 5,000 spliffs and the beats of a huge mobile sound- system. We dance and sing our way through the streets of south London, evoking smiles and waves from everyone we pass. If dope can create this much joy and happiness, it should not only be legalised, but made compulsory. I must mention this to Sir John: fight crime with cannabis. Laughing, happy people don't rob and rape. Hand out free skunk and the crime rate will plummet.
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