A surprise candidate in the race for London mayor? Alan Carr, president of the Association of University Teachers, was pleased to greet both familiar and unfamiliar faces at the AUT's Scottish council at Strathclyde University. Mr Carr said that one of the most unfamiliar was that of activist John Duffy, who has shaved off his beard for the first time in 30 years. Mr Carr asked whether Mr Duffy had done so on advice from Millbank.