Like many of the Conservative candidates seeking to win selection to stand as mayor of London, Alex Challoner is doing his best not to appear too Tory.
"I know I have to wear my Tory heart on my sleeve very lightly to win votes in London," he tells i.
"As we know, it's all about those people in the middle. The people who have voted Tory once or twice, probably did for Cameron. Getting those people is going to be absolutely key."
If recent comments from many of the other eight Tory mayoral hopefuls are anything to go by, being associated with the current Government and the turmoil it has wrought - delivering three prime ministers in less than a year and Liz Truss's disastrous mini-Budget - is not something they want to be.
Getting as far from Westminster politics as they dare will, they seem to believe, may be the only chance they have of preventing Sadiq Khan from winning a third term in City Hall.
Challoner also tracks alongside his rivals for the Tory nomination when it comes to the issues facing the Metropolitan Police. As it deals with accusations and evidence of racism, sexism, homophobia, and failing to check the criminal backgrounds of its recruits, few are claiming UK's largest police force does not require substantial reform.
Not least Challoner, who goes even further than most of his rivals in how he would tackle New Scotland Yard and its relatively new Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
"First," he says. "I do think we have to give Rowley some time to prove he can get on top of things."
Obvious next question. How much time?
"A year," Challoner answers. "Well, he's had a year under Sadiq, so it'd be two years by the time I was in City Hall. So, I hope he'd have made some progress by then. If not, then I'd have to sit down with him and have a very serious conversation."
By "very serious conversation" Challoner means Rowley would, in all likelihood, have to go and that "I would not rule anything out when looking at reform".
This "reform" includes a possible break-up of the Met with the creation of new forces across the capital, even merging elements of the Met with forces that border Greater London.
The candidate, who lives with his husband and adopted son near Archway in north London, has other plans for the Met as well. He wants it to start solving burglaries, muggings and car crime again.
It's not rare for anyone reporting a home break-in or vehicle theft to never hear from the police anywhere in the country. In London many no long bother even reporting them because they feel they know nothing will be done.
"Many people I talk to have been burgled, mugged on the street, or had their car broken into, stolen or damaged. Then, other than a cursory call and a bit of tlc from the officers, there's been no follow up.
"It's something that affects Londoners every day and it's almost become accepted that we expect to be burgled or mugged, or have our cars stolen or damaged at some point.
"I want to end that feeling by recruiting 1,000 new officers, on top of the existing numbers, to form a dedicated police unit for burglary and car crime. I want Londoners to feel safe."
While the Met and crime is towards the top of Challoner's to-do list, it isn't quite his main priority. That is to begin to solve the housing crisis in London, something so many before him have tried and failed.
But Challoner has something of an original thought on the issue. He is promising to build five new market communities - each with at least 10,000 homes - around London for young people, families and key workers by the end of his first term in office.
The 53 year-old would also commission a review of green belt land because "not all 'green belt' is actually green".
"When I was in my 20s it was possible to get on the housing ladder and buy a flat, but that's an impossible dream for so many people now.
"I want to see a comprehensive review of the green belt undertaken as soon as possible too. We need to find land that isn't contributing to London communities now and put that land to good use as soon as possible."
He added that he will appoint a chief design officer to help develop these new communities.
"There will also be other sections of land that aren't currently green belt and that should be," he added. "I'll take action on both fronts, so every bit of land is delivering benefits for Londoners.
"My plan is for 50,000 new homes and I want Londoners to help shape what these new market communities will look like. We shouldn't be building homes in places where the infrastructure is already creaking."
While he accepts that even 50,000 homes will not be enough, he believes "it's a start" and something he can realistically achieve during a first term in office.
On the extension of Khan's ultra low emission zone (Ulez), Challoner is with his fellow candidates. He'll pause it.
"We need an immediate pause to the expansion of the divisive Ulez to give Londoners an opportunity to come up with alternatives to improve the air quality in our city," he says.
"Ulez disproportionately affects Londoners in outer London who rely on their cars every day. It also prevents people from getting into outer London from our surrounding regions too."
As with the Met, Challoner goes further than his rivals on the topic of Brexit too. Or, to be specific, how to fix it.
A staunch remainer during the 2016 referendum, he does accept Brexit will not be reversed "at least not in my lifetime", but he also believes closer ties with Europe are inevitable.
"What I am determined to help achieve is that we rinse every available opportunity that comes out of Brexit, or indeed closer co-operation in the meantime," he adds.
"Even if it doesn't mean rejoining the single market, rejoining the customs union, you're going to get closer and closer cooperation between the UK and EU.
"I think that there's going to be a path that is going to happen irrespective of which party wins the next general election."
One reason for Challoner's softer approach to Brexit is his determination to create a vibrant employment market in the capital.
"London's great strength is the people who make it up," he says. "It's a huge mix of people from every background and that's why it's such a wonderful place to be.
"There's no doubt immigration has made London what it is. It's the ultimate mongrel city. So, we have got to keep that steady flow of people."
Challoner is pretty confident he knows who will take two of the three places on his party's shortlist for mayor - his rivals Paul Scully, the current minister for London, and David Cameron's former No10 aide Daniel Korski.
"I'm fighting for the third spot along with plenty of other strong candidates," he says.
With backing from senior Tories such as Robert Buckland, Jackie Doyle Price, Chris Loder, Damian Green and Lord Jackson, Challoner is in with a fighting chance of making it when the London Conservative Group decides who makes it to the final three - an announcement is expected this weekend.
Then again, so is former Boris Johnson adviser Samuel Kasumu and entrepreneur Natalie Campbell.
"They are both great candidates," says Challoner. "I'd certainly have a place for them in my team should I get into City Hall."
He should know whether he's in a position to begin those talks with any unsuccessful candidates in just a few days time.