Newly minted Conservative Leader Doug Ford is in London today, his first visit to the city since winning a condensed leadership race earlier this month.

In the afternoon Ford, along with London North Centre PC candidate Susan Trupee, met with voters in Covent Garden Market.

Ford joked with a group of post-secondary students who were there to support him.

"Focus on school and don't let those profs make you swing left because a lot of those profs want to swing left," said Ford. "It's all about freedom of speech."

Ford is expected to appear at a rally at 6 p.m. at the Lamplighter Inn hosted by Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton.

London is one of the first cities Ford has chosen to visit on the campaign trail, a sign that Southwestern Ontario will play an important role in deciding which party forms the next government.

The Liberals hold the riding of London North Centre, although longtime MPP Deb Matthews is not running again.

London's other two seats are held by the New Democrats — Teresa Armstrong in London-Fanshawe and Peggy Sattler in London West.

But outside of London, the region's ridings are all Tory blue.

That includes MPP Monte McNaughton's Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. McNaughton is hosting Ford's event, even though he supported Caroline Mulroney in the leadership race.