Zac Goldsmith today tackled criticism over his privileged background, saying he only went into politics to “get things done”.
The Tory mayoral candidate claimed that despite his huge wealth, estimated at £300 million, he had been a campaigner “as far back as I can remember”. He insisted it had never been his ultimate goal to follow his father and grandfather into politics.
His remarks contrast with Boris Johnson, who told his family he wanted to become “world king” while still a child.
They will be seen as a bid to bridge the gap with Labour rival Sadiq Khan, who was brought up on a council estate. Next year’s election is already being framed as the son of a billionaire versus the son of a bus driver.
Mr Goldsmith’s rivals have questioned whether his wealth might prevent him from understanding problems faced by ordinary people.
But at a Westminster lunch, the Tory MP for Richmond Park and Kingston North was expected to portray himself as a political “outsider” who would stand up for Londoners.
“I can’t do that thing of saying I’m the first in my family to get involved in politics,” he was due to say. “For my part, I have always been a campaigner as far back as I can remember. If I see something wrong, I want to change it.
“Being an MP was never the goal, or an end in and of itself. It was a means to an end — to getting things done.
“From where I was standing there wasn’t enough emphasis on the things that mattered; political reform, mending the relationship between people and power, the environment, and I wanted to help fix those things.”
Mr Goldsmith’s grandfather Frank was a Tory MP, his father Sir James founded the Eurosceptic Referendum Party, and uncle Edward helped found the forerunner of the Green Party.
