In 2021 London Real’s founder Brian Rose stood for Mayor of London as an independent voice outside the two main parties. He launched the London Real Party, took the Battle Bus to every one of London’s 32 boroughs, twice, and set out his ideas each week on the Real Deal. This page collects the whole campaign: the policy shows, the borough tour, the manifesto launch and the guests who backed him.
Brian’s run for City Hall drew support from Michael Franzese, Patrick Bet-David, Rose McGowan, Elle Macpherson, Flex Wheeler, Diamond Dallas Page, Martyn Ford and Candace Owens, who each recorded a message for London voters in the final weeks.
From the summer of 2020 Brian hosted the Real Deal, a weekly show on the issues he wanted City Hall to tackle. He argued that lockdowns were doing lasting damage to jobs, schools and mental health, and called for London to get back to work and back to school. Later episodes turned to knife crime, the city’s debt and the shortage of affordable homes, with Brian setting out how he would approach each one as mayor.
In early 2021 Brian took the campaign on the road. The Battle Bus LIVE series follows him borough by borough across London, from Lambeth and Lewisham to Harrow, Havering and Westminster. He visited every one of the city’s 32 boroughs twice, meeting residents and business owners along the way. It was on the bus that he announced the London Real Party, spoke out against low traffic neighbourhoods and launched his manifesto, which he framed as a break from the blame game between the two main parties.
In the final weeks before polling day, guests from across London Real’s history recorded messages of support. Michael Franzese said Brian was the right person for the city, Patrick Bet-David said the campaign was no gimmick, and Rose McGowan, Elle Macpherson, Flex Wheeler, Diamond Dallas Page, Martyn Ford, JP Sears, Simon Dolan and Candace Owens added their voices. Brian went on to win more than 31,000 first-preference votes in May 2021, and returned in 2024 to stand again.
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Did Brian Rose run for Mayor of London? Yes. Brian stood in the May 2021 London mayoral election for the London Real Party and won more than 31,000 first-preference votes. He stood again in 2024.
What was the Battle Bus? Battle Bus LIVE was Brian’s 2020 to 2021 campaign tour, which visited all 32 London boroughs twice, streamed live as he met voters and set out his plans.
What was the Real Deal? A weekly show Brian hosted from 2020 to 2021 on London’s biggest issues, from lockdowns and schools to knife crime and housing.
Can I watch the campaign episodes for free? Yes, every episode on this page can be watched free on londonreal.tv.
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