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London Mayor Election 2016: Zac Goldsmith fails London trivia questions in awkward BBC interview

The Conservative candidate struggled with the Central Line

Jon Stone
Tuesday 05 April 2016 12:50 BST
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Zac Goldsmith struggles to answer London trivia questions

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For someone hoping to become the next Mayor of London, Zac Goldsmith might have brushed up on his local knowledge.

The Conservative candidate for Mayor of London gave an awkward interview in which he failed to answer a number of trivia questions about the capital.

Mr Goldsmith was driven around in the back of a Black Cab by the BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith and subjected to quick-fire interview questions.

Upon failing to name the Tube station one along from Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line, Mr Goldsmith told BBC Two's Victoria Derbyshire Programme:

“I’m going to stop you there: most people have a route or two routes and they become like an extension of the body.

“But for me when it's outside the norm you have apps like Citymapper which you rely on every day."

Mr Goldsmith was also asked about where the Museum of London was located but did not know.

Told by Mr Smith that he was a “very wealthy man", the Richmond MP did not appear particularly concerned with portraying himself as a would-be 'man of the people'.

He however got some questions right: including correctly naming the fictional “Dirty Den” as the first EastEnders pub landlord.

The Richmond MP has begun to fall behind Labour’s candidate for Mayor, Sadiq Khan.

The latest polls suggest Mr Khan has a 10-point lead over Mr Goldsmith in the run-off vote between the two top-placed candidates.

The Tory candidate re-iterated his attack on Mr Khan, who has has described as “divisive” and “radical”. He also said Mr Khan did not have any principles.

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