Andreas Michli was previously handed £67,000 fines for refusing to close Zone Gym during lockdown, reports Miriam Balanescu

The owner of a gym in Wood Green has announced that he will be running as a candidate for mayor of London.

Andreas Michli, owner of Zone Gym, said today (16th November) that he will be standing as an independent candidate for the post currently held by Labour politician Sadiq Khan.

The businessman and health campaigner told HCP that he will be running for mayoralty in 2024 to boost the health of Londoners and combat “unaccountable politicians” in parliament.

Andreas said: “I was radicalised by lockdown when, like many Londoners, I realized we were ruled by an uncaring, ideologically driven political class who think they know what’s best for ordinary people.

“This same attitude has led to a raft of deeply unpopular policies being foisted upon the population, whether it’s politically correct policing that favours certain groups over others, or the imposition of incredibly unpopular Net Zero policies like ULEZ and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods with zero consultation or conversation with those affected.”

Andreas previously hit national news headlines after he refused to close Zone Gym during lockdown in 2020. In November, approximately 30 police officers attended the gym’s premises and ordered the business to close.

The gym owner was then fined £77,000 for repeatedly not following rules on opening hours during lockdown, but twelve charges of breaches of Covid regulations were dropped in 2022.

Andreas added: “I believe Londoners are sick of top-down, unaccountable politicians, and of being treated as children. My health policies are an excellent reflection of my approach to politics: rather than patronisingly telling people to get fit and eat well, I want the Mayor’s office to provide practical support such as free gym membership and healthy eating plans for every citizen.

“The overarching theme to my campaign is responsibility, and this is reflected throughout my platform, whether it’s for the Met to be accountable to the communities they serve, and for the Mayor to consult with Londoners about any new policy that will affect their lives.”

Among Andreas’ plans for his manifesto are: subsidised gym memberships for all Londoners; free nutrition and ‘get-fit’ plans; warnings on ultra-processed foods; a focus on improving Metropolitan Police officers’ physical fitness and ‘martial skills’; and ‘the eradication of ‘woke’ policing’.

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

More information on supporting us monthly 

More Information about donations