The Conversation (0)
Kate Plummer
Mar 22, 2021
Peter Gammons
UKIP
UKIP’s Mayoral candidate is called Peter Gammons and people can’t quite believe it’s not satire.
Gammons, who is described on the UKIP website as an “internationally respected motivational speaker and an award-winning and best-selling author”, was selected as the party’s candidate in November last year.
But he was trending on Twitter again today as the candidates gear up for the election later this year, with users besides themselves over the fact that a pejorative term for a right-wing politician has become a reality.
Unbelievably, Gammons is not the only UKIP politician to have a PR disaster of a name. After Richard Braine was elected as leader in August 2019, people were quick to dub him “Dick Braine”, using an unfortunate shortening of Richard to mock the politician.
Pat Mountain, an interim leader during 2019, was also ridiculed after a broadcast appearance convinced the public she was a satirical Catherine Tate character last year.
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The resurgence of Gammons comes as an Opinium poll revealed Londoners’ voting intention in the election. Labour’s Sadiq Khan – the incumbent candidate – holds 53% of the voting share while Conservative Shaun Bailey lags behind on 28% of the vote. Gammons is on just 2% of the vote.
Gammons, for his part, appears to be well in on the joke. Writing in a Q&A on his website, he said: “I’ve always had jokes about my name. At school they called me ‘Gammon and pineapple’ but since the referendum it has gone to a whole new level.
“The real meaning of the word ‘gammon’ in English literature is ‘proud to be British’ (which I am ).”
Gammons is in favour of an increased police presence in London and wants to plant more trees in the nation’s capital. As part of his campaign, he also sells themed merchandise on an online shop, including caps, mugs, hoodies and face masks – though he opposes lockdown.
His campaign headquarters are situated in Barking, which is also not a joke.
Polling takes place on 6 May. If Gammons wishes to get a slice of political power, it’s time for him to ham it up for the cameras and get the people on his side.