As Zac Goldsmith arrives at Waterloo station, an orchestra on the concourse strikes up music from Game Of Thrones.
It is a fitting soundtrack to a mayoral campaign which has, at times, resembled a dynastic struggle for control of London. The row over Sadiq Khan’s alleged extremist links — and the backlash against the Tories for their attacks — has threatened to overshadow the contest.
But today Goldsmith insists he is “trying very hard” not to talk about his Labour rival and is here to promote his own plans for London instead.
He is at Britain’s busiest station to meet commuters and see first-hand what Network Rail is doing to address chronic overcrowding.
The Tories feel Khan’s fares freeze pledge is a weak spot as Transport for London claims it could take huge sums away from much-needed investment. They’ve taken a gamble that Londoners would be prepared to pay more and have a transport network they can rely on.
Goldsmith, in the end, doesn’t meet any commuters, spending an age inspecting the rebuilding of the old Eurostar platforms instead.
A financial analyst commuter called James tells the Standard later: “I’m pretty fed up with having my nose stuck in somebody else’s armpit on my way to work so I wouldn’t mind paying a bit more if they increase capacity.” Others are less keen. Natalia, a shop assistant, is worried her daily commute will become too expensive. “I already struggle to afford to live in London. The last thing I want is for the cost of my travel to go up too.”
Goldsmith spends so long on the platform that he misses his own campaign bus to his next event and has to go by Tube.
He gets a few curious glances, but no approaches. Neither he, nor his Labour rival, are household names like Boris Johnson. The Tories are pushing the “vote Zac, get Boris” strategy and today Mr Johnson joins Goldsmith leafleting in Marylebone High Street. The candidate races on ahead, gingerly handing out leaflets, while the Mayor stops to chat and pose for selfies. One aide introduces Mr Goldsmith to a passerby, who says: “OK ... where’s Boris?”
Johnson says he is confident Goldsmith will win and aides point out that polls — which put Khan way ahead — were “miles out” ahead of the general election.
The politicians enter a cafe, where one customer, Anmol, says: “I’ll be voting based on policy rather than what they’re saying about each other.” Naomi, a student, says she is not sure yet who will get her vote, but adds: “I’m just fed up with all this tit-for-tat. I wish it would stop.”
