Mayoral candidate is planning civil partnership

By Tony Grew • April 18, 2008 - 10:46

The 49-year-old was until May last year the most senior out gay policeman in the country

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The Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London is to 'tie the knot' with his boyfriend.

Brian Paddick told the Pink Paper of his civil partnership plans in an interview published yesterday.

The 49-year-old was until May last year the most senior out gay policeman in the country in his former role as Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan police.

His boyfriend, Petter Belsvik, 36, is originally from Norway. The couple live in Vauxhall, south London.

Asked if he was planning a civil partnership, Mr Paddick replied:

"Yes, we are – that’s an exclusive!

"We want to do it properly – unlike my 50th, which I’ll be celebrating with Ken and Boris on Question Time."

Ken Livingstone, the Labour candidate and incumbent Mayor, the Conservative party candidate Boris Johnson and Mr Paddick will face each other next Thursday in a special edition of the BBC political programme.

Mr Paddick today declined to comment further on his planned nuptials, and his campaign staff stressed the event would be private.

In an interview with PinkNews.co.uk published in February, Mr Paddick spoke about his desire to protect his partner from press intrusion.

"He is already having his leg pulled by friends," he said.

"One right wing newspaper is, I think, delving away hoping he is going to turn out to be a 19-year-old rent boy.

"If they do identify him and catch up with him they are going to be greatly disappointed in terms of news worthiness.

"I have, by running for political office, decided to some extent give up some of my privacy.

"But my partner should make that decision for himself, whether he wants to give up his privacy in that way."

In the run up to polling day on May 1st, Mr Belsvik has accompanied Mr Paddick to several high-profile events, such as the Stonewall Equality Dinner earlier this month.

Full list of candidates for Mayor of London:
Richard Barnbrook - British National Party
Gerard Batten - UK Independence Party
Sian Berry - Green Party
Alan Craig - Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party
Lindsey German - The Left List
Boris Johnson - Conservative Party
Ken Livingstone - Labour Party
Winston McKenzie - Independent
Matt O’Connor - English Democrats
Brian Paddick - Liberal Democrats

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