Proud is on Paddick stations

BRIAN Paddick will be proud of his latest endorsement from a Camden businessman.

Alex Proud, owner of the trendy Proud bar and gallery and vice-chairman of business group Camden Town Unlimited, showed the Lib Dem candidate (centre) around last Friday.

“Boris and Ken couldn’t give a flying monkeys about Camden Town,” said Mr Proud.

“I was around when Boris visited and it was a joke – it was a photocall rather than something substantial and I can’t remember Ken ever visiting which is amazing given it’s such a major tourist attraction.

“I told Brian what we were doing in Camden Town. Essentially I was applauding the increase in police in the area and told him about the work to deal with the area’s drug problem. Up close he was very impressive and his interest in Camden seemed genuine. I think, in Camden, he’s the only option for mayor.”

However, Boris Johnson made his own bid to win over publicans this week suggesting he would support a referendum on the smoking ban. However, he later admitted he couldn’t do this under the powers of the London mayor and was merely expressing his opinion.

Mr Livingstone, not wishing to miss out on the revellers’ vote, was out on a walk around in Soho last Thursday.