Zac Goldsmith ignores equality ‘Code of Conduct’ plea

As reported in Buzzfeed, despite calls and emails to Zac Goldsmith’s campaign team they refuse to respond to a plea to sign a ‘Code of Conduct’ put together by a coalition of race equality groups, including the Runnymede Trust, the Jewish Council for Race Equality, and Operation Black Vote.

It is bitterly disappointing that our attempts to engage with Goldsmith's team have been met with a wall of silence.

Those other candidates asked to sign readily responded. Here’s what they wrote:

Sian Berry, Green candidate for Mayor of London

“I’m more than happy to sign up to this code of conduct and I welcome this by Runnymede, OBV and other race equality organisations.

Like many Londoners, I have been dismayed by a negative, personal campaign from the Conservative Party which seems designed to play on the wider electorate’s assumed prejudices against Muslims, as well as to target Londoners with negative messages based on their presumed ethnicity and to attempt to divide them from one another. This is a deeply irresponsible approach at a time when we need more than ever to bring our communities closer together. It also diverts attention from the very real problems that face nearly all of us, of housing, transport and filthy air. That’s what I want to talk about, I think most other Londoners do too, and I hope my fellow candidates will sign up to do just that.”

Labour’s Mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan, said:

“I welcome this important initiative from Runnymede Trust, and Operation Black Vote, two national organisations who are respected by all main stream political parties. I couldn’t agree more than to sign this ‘Code of Conduct’.

Elections should be positive battles of ideas - with competing visions of a better future.

Unfortunately, certain elements within this Mayoral campaign have fallen a long way short of those expectations – with increasing desperation and divisiveness.

Londoners deserve better and I will spend the last two weeks outlining my positive plans to be a Mayor for all Londoners.”

Caroline Pidgeon –Liberal Democrats

“In any election it is important that campaigners take care not to discriminate in any way, shape or form nor make any statement that could cause offence to communities.

Of course robust debate is part and parcel of the election process and one should not be afraid of this. Of course robust debate is part and parcel of the election process and one should not be afraid of this. However it is important that nothing any campaign does causes fear or mistrust among any of London's diverse communities . And if any campaigner breaks this rule then immediate action should be taken.”