Owing his selection as Conservative candidate more to the misfortunes of Lord Archer than an overwhelming desire among Tories that he should represent them, Steven Norris has conducted his campaign at arm's length from Central Office.
He drafted a personal team of aides to run his campaign rather than have a team imposed on him, and has appeared with the party leader, William Hague, on only a handful of occasions. Despite his inauspicious start, Norris's support in polls has increased steadily and he is tipped to beat Frank Dobson into second place, raising the prospect of a Tory deputy mayor.
Norris has pledged to introduce 24-hour Tube trains to run through Friday and Saturday nights and to operate a 24-hour bus service in London.
He wants to see 6,000 extra police officers on the streets and the publication of daily crime figures according to police districts that would be made available to the public.