Boris ‘considering’ standing for Mayor
Boris Johnson is flirting with the prospect of running for mayor of London, as the Tory party searches for a high-profile challenger to Ken Livingstone.
Yesterday the cycling MP for Henley on Thames said he would not put himself forward as a candidate, before appearing to back pedal and say it deserved careful thought.
When the idea was first mooted yesterday morning, Mr Johnson said he was “definitely not a candidate”.
The shadow higher education spokesman and journalist said he was “greatly enjoying” what he was doing.
But by late afternoon the appeal of City Hall appeared to have grown and he implied he was considering standing for mayor.
Mr Johnson said: “Being Mayor of London would be a fantastic job and anyone who loves London would want to consider the possibility very carefully.
“I want to stress that this idea did not come from David Cameron or from anyone in his office but I have, of course, been very struck by the number of people who have been urging me to run.”
However, he said there were still “huge obstacles” to his candidacy, including his responsibilities to his constituency.
He concluded: “It is hard to see how those difficulties could be overcome – but I am ruling nothing out.”
Mr Johnson is as well known for his public gaffes as political prowess.
He was forced to apologise after he accused Liverpool of wallowing in victim hood after the murder of Ken Bigley in Iraq. He hit the headlines again for describing Portsmouth as full of fat drug users.
Fortuitously for his latest career plans he is yet to publicly lampoon Londoners.
The deadline for applications closes on July 16 and the Tories are still struggling to find a heavyweight contender.
Former parliamentary candidate Nick Boles had been tipped to lead the Tory challenge, but withdrew from the race after being diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.
Lord Stevens, the former Scotland Yard chief, and ex BBC director-general Greg Dyke have rebuffed Mr Cameron’s invitation to run.
Lurline Champagnie, a self-employed consultant nurse, is appealing for the Tory nomination and has so far been backed by three backbenchers.
