Meet the Bristol mayor candidate: John Langley

John Langley is paraphrasing a quote commonly attributed to Napolean to articulate his argument about there being too much government control over people’s lives.

“In 300 years, we have gone from a nation of shopkeepers to a nation of sheep,” says the outspoken mayoral candidate.

“There’s too much control over people’s lives and over what can be said and what can’t be said. This lockdown thing – which was probably entirely unnecessary – people just follow like sheep.

“There is very little resistance against it and things need to change. People need to feel engaged and motivated and empowered again.”

Aside from the fact lockdowns were imposed in a bid to ease pressure on the NHS and save lives, there was also a fair bit of opposition – with protests in Bristol and down the road in Glastonbury.

Despite his words, Langley says he was not among the protesters. “There are certain things we can physically change and certain things we can’t. Going out onto the streets raises a voice and people have a right to be heard, but has it changed anything? Absolutely not.”

John Langley on his camp stool near Taste of Napoli – photo by Ellie Pipe

Meeting on a brisk Friday morning, the former porn star who is also known as Johnny Rockard, has brought his own camp stool down to his favourite café and is perched in a closed doorway spooning thick hot chocolate from a tin mug into his mouth.

It’s still a couple of weeks before lockdown eases at this point so there are no tables and chairs outside Taste of Napoli, but Langley refuses to let government restrictions get in the way of his daily routine – going out as normal each day despite his emphysema.

He brings the stool over to a nearby bench for the interview, pausing at occasions throughout to chat to passersby and other regulars who stop by to say hello.

“First thing I would do if elected is very much about consulting with local businesses and people about getting the city back on its feet,” says Langley, who wants to relax business rates to help independents and new startups.

“Shops closing left, right and centre is not good. It’s about bringing the city back to life. We need to do something about the empty shop premises, we have to get people spending money on our high streets again and not online.

“We have all these office blocks being built that no one is going to need so they will be sitting empty and we have to look at applying that to building much-needed housing in the city – it’s all about building the local economy and getting things moving.”

Once a Lib Dem, Langley went on to become the vice-chairman of Bristol UKIP before being suspended from the party for an adult film made in Castle Park. He is standing for election on May 6 as an independent, as he did in 2016.

A former male escort, porn star and producer, Langley has recently branched into writing and his book, The Awakening, was released just a couple of weeks before the interview. Billed as a must-read for women in 2021, it was written in just two weeks and could just be the start as he admits he’s considering writing another couple.

“The timing of the book was due to lockdown and inspiration was down to a girlfriend of mine,” says the newly published author, who describes himself as a modern, forward-thinking man.

He says he “doesn’t really work in the adult industry anymore” but is vehemently opposed to plans to ban sex venues in Bristol.

“The plan to ban sex clubs puts women back,” says Langley “A woman is entitled to do with her body what she chooses. If that’s all you have got to worry about you lead a very sad life.”

Langley is among those who oppose plans to ban sex venues in Bristol – photo of a recent protest by Martin Booth

The mayoral candidate has struggled in the past with addiction and mental health – the latter is something he is keen to focus on as part of his campaign.

“Part of getting Bristol back on its feet is looking at funding mental health initiatives to be able to do that,” he says. “We need to empower people to help themselves.”

The city’s traffic situation, says Langley, is something that needs to be looked at. “I believe in some green initiatives but do not think charging motorists to come into the city is good for people,” he says. “I would cut commercial traffic coming through the city by restricting hours.”

After coming in 12th out of 13 candidates in 2016, with just 367 votes, Langley isn’t under any illusions about his chances of winning the ballot on May 6. He says it’s more about having a voice.

Having lived in Old Market for the last four years, Langley says he has seen the area change even in that short period, but he doesn’t think gentrification is taking over.

“It still has massage parlours,” he points out. “I have seen it change a lot in four years but Old Market will always be Old Market.”

Main photo by Aphra Evans

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