Brian Haw for London Mayor?

There seems to be a mini rumour flying round that Brian Haw, long standing peace campaigner and camping enthusiast, is going to stand for London Mayor.

I've found evidence of this rumour at the usually reliable jangliss, the often unreliable wikipedia (uncited) and a discussion on whether this would be a good idea on indymedia. Now, it could be these sources are well ahead of the game - if so kudos goes to them for the scoop - but I'm unconvinced.

There's no mention about this on his supporters' website or his facebook group, or any news source that I can find. I wonder how such rumours arise... wishful thinking perhaps?

Whatever the truth of the matter it would be a sad, bad move on Brian's part if he were to do so. Firstly Brian stood for Parliament in 2005, when arguably the war was a hotter issue and more central to how people chose to cast their vote, and he got 298 votes, which is 0.8%. Not exactly impressive. There's no reason to think that Brian can be the center of a larger, better organised, more vibrant campaign this time around that covers the entirety of London rather than just a single Parliamentary constituency.

Now I've supported candidates who got less than one percent of the vote before - but I never came out of those campaigns thinking it was an entirely worthwhile experience worth repeating time and again. One problem is that if Brian stood (which I don't think he will) and gets a dismal vote it allows the right to say "look, less than one percent of the population are opposed to the war, far less than voted for any of the pro-war parties." I don't think we should hand them that opportunity frankly.

The other core problem is that whilst I would be in favour of a unified progressive left candidate Brian could not be it. In fact what he would be doing is asking everyone who is part of the diverse anti-occupation movement who is also a member of a political party to vote against their own candidate. In effect to make a choice between supporting their party and voting against the war. This is made particularly divisive when their party candidate is part of the anti-war movement themselves (like Lindsey German or Sian Berry who will both be candidates).

These other anti-war candidates have a ready made base of support and, by and large, know what they're doing in the electoral field, I'd suggest that instead of trying to win a few votes/activists away from these campaigns people should join one of them if they want to bolster the anti-war vote. I'd also say that voting for one of those candidates would be a statement for something greater than simply for troops to withdraw slightly faster than the British government currently plans - it would be a vote for a more rounded, progressive platform.

If Brian stood it would simply be another vanity candidacy that put his personal ambitions above that of the movement of which he is a part - without proper consultation or accountability for those actions. I hope that he would put such considerations aside for the benefit of those who respect his tenacity without wishing to be part of building some weird cult of the personality. In my opinion we need to have a few less celebrities in favour of a more political politics.

If people do spot any more news on this "story" please do let me know.