Lembit Opik compares his loss to Brian Paddick in the race to be the Lib Dem London mayoral candidate to Nelson Mandela's "wilderness years".

Brian Paddick has been selected to be the Liberal Democrats' candidate in the London Mayoral Election 2012. Speaking on Good Evening Wales, Lembit Opik appeared to compare himself to Nelson Mandela, arguing that all great politicians have to have some wilderness years.

Lembit Opik had a piece in today’s Evening Standard ahead of the results declaration in the London Mayor selection. In it he said he expected to lose and went on to say: Ever since I was first enticed into entering the fray as a potential candidate, I’ve experienced a remarkable degree of antagonism and aggression

It’s been a fascinating — and characteristicaly bizarre — last 48 hours in the contest to become the Lib Dems’ London mayoral candidate. There was the first hustings, reported here on LDV by Simon McGrath, which attracted comments from Brian Paddick, and some robust thoughts from Lembit Opik’s campaign manager Ed Joyce. Further controversy was

London Region Liberal Democrats have announced the shortlist of four for the selection of the party’s Mayoral candidate for 2012: Brian Haley Lembit Opik Brian Paddick Mike Tuffrey There will now be a ballot of all eligible London party members. The revised timetable for the rest of the selection is as follows: July 12: Publication

Former Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Lembit Opik says the party needs "cohesion" and "clarity" over its handling of two ousted AMs and possible successors.

Former MP Lembit Opik claimed there had been "a lot of negative briefing from some mysterious, anonymous sources" in his party about his bid to be Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2012 London mayoral race.

Lib Dems delayed choosing a candidate for the 2012 London mayoral campaign, with former MP Lembit Opik apparently the front runner, now a new contestant has entered the race.

It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock. Here’s a fistful of lists that sum up the LDV week: 5 most-read stories on LDV this week Andrew Reeves passes away (37 comments) by Mark Pack Response: Chair of Federal Conference Committee on increased security measures (153 comments) by Andrew Wiseman Opinion: Why you should be taking Lembit Opik

It’s hard to raise the subject of Lembit Opik without somebody cracking a joke. He’s certainly not loved by our own party’s leadership and many see him as more of a celebrity than a politician. I can, however, name two other people who are hated by their party’s leadership and seem to be two parts