On London Extra: Hustings dodging

There's been a lot of it about. Plus polling plethora, campaign latest, elections guide and event news

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Has there been a mayoral election campaign like this for dodging hustings? Last night's Jewish Community event was the first at which all four of the topmost candidates have appeared, and it's not cynical to suspect that part of the reason was that opting out was not an option - the hike in antisemitic incidents since 7 October and the ongoing arguments about the policing of pro-Palestine marches mean declining the invitation would have been a very bad look indeed.

The same was not judged to apply to Tuesday's hustings put on by Inclusion London, which supports organisations for deaf and disabled Londoners, or those of Age UK London and countryside charity CPRE last month. Only the Green Party's Zoë Garbett, who has - rather commendably - made showing up a matter of democratic principle, has spoken at all four. Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie went to the CPRE gathering. For Conservative Susan Hall and Labour's Sadiq Khan, yesterday evening's event at the JW3 centre on Finchley Road was the first time they've debated all together in the flesh. It might be the only time they do so in such a way before 2 May.