Andrew Boff said Conservative Londoners are much less inspired by traditional conservative views. Photo: Belinda Jiao
Tori must be London different to have a chance to reclaim the capital, said the mayoral challenger, who supports the legalization of cannabis, the decriminalization of street prostitution and self-identification for transgender people.
Andrew Boff hopes to be the Conservative candidate in the election The mayor of London asked for the sixth time and believes that his social-liberal views will be an advantage against Sadiq Khan next May.
A veteran local politician who has served in the London Assembly since 2008, Boff unsuccessfully sought the Conservative candidacy for mayoral elections in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016 and 2021.
Explaining his decision to throw his foot in the ring again, he told The Telegraph: «I have long been convinced that the Conservative Party in London is different from other parts of the country … we need a distinctive London voice.»
He said Tory Londoners are far less interested in traditional conservative views, adding: “We're not as fixated on things like immigration because we're the most diverse and multicultural city on the planet. This is our strength.”
Regarding the biggest current issue in London politics — the planned expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone in August — Mr Boff said his “first order from the mayor” would be to reverse reverse it.< /p>
He rejected a promise by Samuel Kasumu, the only other candidate declared for the Conservative nomination, to hold a referendum on London's suburban expansion, saying: «Referendums are always proposed by people who cannot make their own mind.»
ULEZ's London expansion plan
Mr. Boff, who has a reputation as an independent-minded conservative with socially liberal views, said he sees the world as «a world where people are at their best when given the opportunity to be able to pursue their own dreams.»
This has led him to take a position that runs counter to the dominant grain of thought in his party on a number of issues.
He supports the legalization of cannabis as long as it is subject to appropriate regulation, saying: “It needs to be regulated because I don't think that the distribution network of this drug, which can be harmful to young people, should be left to criminal gangs. .
«If you prefer not to regulate and prefer to believe that because you have a law against it, it doesn't happen anymore, then I think you're burying your head in the sand.»
He said he thought this should be balanced by a «massive» increase in penalties for adults «giving young people drugs of any kind,» including businesses that sell cigarettes and vapes to children, because » people under the age of 18 are not competent to make decisions.” for themselves about what they put into their body.”
In the past, Mr Boff has suggested trying out a «managed street prostitution zone» in east London. He said that while he «does not push for a managed zone» in this competition of mayors, he believes that criminalizing those involved in sex work is counterproductive.
He said: “Once you accept that this trafficking will take place always, everywhere, in every country, no matter how strict the legal framework, you will need to talk about how we ensure the safety of these women?” He added that the answer was to «point» them to services that would help them «realize that they might have other options in life.»
Mr Boff said his views topics like this would be a «niche issue» in any campaign, adding, «They caricature me as obsessed with drugs and whores and everything. In fact, this is a very small part of what makes me up.”
Instead, he said he would «pay attention» to the environment, build better housing («we're throwing out all the old c—» at the moment) and reform the planning system.
Andrew Boff: «I didn't need a medical exam to find out I was gay…why would a transgender need one?» Photo: Belinda Jiao
In 2005, Mr. Boff was one of the first people in the country to enter into a same-sex civil partnership and is a patron of the LGBT+ Conservative Group.
On transgender rights, he said he was «happy» with the current system of gender recognition, but that «progress» might be needed in some areas, a position at odds with many in his party. When asked if he supports self-identification, he said: «I did not need to undergo a medical examination to find out that I was gay … why would a transgender need it?»
Mr Boff said he thought «the idea that transgender people are some kind of danger» was «quite possibly the most ridiculous canard I've seen in my political life.»
He said he was «disappointed» with the idea. using the term «gender ideology», comparing it to countries such as Poland where, in his opinion, «LGBT ideology» was used to «retreat» from gay rights. “I don’t even know what LGBT ideology is, unless you wear cargo pants,” he added.
He supported Rishi Sunak’s decision to ban transgender therapy as well as gay conversion therapy, saying: “ Under the Trade Descriptions Act, you can't sell something that doesn't work,» he said. “And it doesn’t work… I have been seeing heterosexual propaganda for 65 years. I'm still not okay. It didn't and won't work.”
Mr. Boff may not have been able to secure the Conservative nomination on five occasions, but he has confidence in himself. “If I am a candidate, I will win,” he said. «I will win because I can hit parts of London that are very difficult for the Conservative Party to deal with…because that's the only way to win.»
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