I hadn't picked up on this story at all yesterday - Evening Standard
are running with the possibility that Bozza might only be around until
2012, based on an interview he did with the paper's editor that
appears today. Just thought some of you might be interested in this,
hence this post.

* Teaser article that appeared yesterday - "Boris: I may only serve
one term as Mayor of London" (23.04.09)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ils/article.do

* The interview piece itself - "So Boris, is this a dress rehearsal
for No 10?" (24.04.09)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ils/article.do

* Follow on-story story - "London Tories look to a future without
Boris" (24.04.09)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ils/article.do


Now of course the ES often goes in for overblowing such stories (to
say the least), but in the interview he does make a number of comments
including "I don't know if I am going to try to do a second term
[...]" before going on to somewhat ambiguously qualify his comments
(ambiguous because they seem to leave open the option of going to do
something about x, y and z issues elsewhere - i.e. at Westminster and
in Whitehall, in other words in central government).

On 24 Apr, 16:05, Mizter T wrote:
I hadn't picked up on this story at all yesterday - Evening Standard
are running with the possibility that Bozza might only be around until
2012, based on an interview he did with the paper's editor that
appears today. Just thought some of you might be interested in this,
hence this post.

* Teaser article that appeared yesterday - "Boris: I may only serve
one term as Mayor of London" (23.04.09)http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-details/artic...

* The interview piece itself - "So Boris, is this a dress rehearsal
for No 10?" (24.04.09)http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-details/artic...

* Follow on-story story - "London Tories look to a future without
Boris" (24.04.09)http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-details/artic...

Now of course the ES often goes in for overblowing such stories (to
say the least), but in the interview he does make a number of comments
including "I don't know if I am going to try to do a second term
[...]" before going on to somewhat ambiguously qualify his comments
(ambiguous because they seem to leave open the option of going to do
something about x, y and z issues elsewhere - i.e. at Westminster and
in Whitehall, in other words in central government).

I did spot this in the freebys yesterday, and I wondered how seriously
to take flippant comments made in an interview.

The same freebys included stories about Ali G against whom a lawsuit
for defamation (in a comedy routine) was dismissed by a judge who
commented "No reasonable person could consider the statements made by
Ali G on the program to be factual. It is obvious that the Ali G
character is absurd, and all his statements are gibberish and intended
as comedy."

For some reason I saw parallels.

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message

On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:05:08 -0700 (PDT), Mizter T
wrote:

I hadn't picked up on this story at all yesterday - Evening Standard
are running with the possibility that Bozza might only be around
until 2012, based on an interview he did with the paper's editor that
appears today. Just thought some of you might be interested in this,
hence this post.

Now of course the ES often goes in for overblowing such stories (to
say the least), but in the interview he does make a number of
comments including "I don't know if I am going to try to do a second
term [...]" before going on to somewhat ambiguously qualify his
comments (ambiguous because they seem to leave open the option of
going to do something about x, y and z issues elsewhere - i.e. at
Westminster and in Whitehall, in other words in central government).

I'm in two minds. There's a bit of me that would not be remotely
surprised if he only wanted to do one term - it almost feels now as if
he is bored with the job given he's delegated almost every role to a
deputy. I've no doubt he's hugely ambitious and would love to be PM.
It creates a potential nightmare for the Tory Party though if he
decides to pursue that ambition. I would not wish to be in David
Cameron's shoes.

However there's also an aspect to those articles where he is teasing
and having fun with the reporter so he could quite easily point out
it was one great big lark and not be taken seriously. He often comes
across like that on telly too. It could just be part of the great
"hasn't he done well, 1st anniversary of this victory" publicity
campaign that appears to be trundling into action.

As I recall Boris wasn't particularly enthusiastic about standing in the
first place, and had to be pushed into it. But one gets the impression
he's quite enjoying it now. However, an old Etonian would never show the
sort of naked ambition that lesser mortals do. So, even if he
desperately wants a second term, he'd never show it at this stage.

"Recliner" wrote:

However, an old Etonian would never show the
sort of naked ambition that lesser mortals do.


Yet Cameron shows it!

Paul Corfield wrote:

I'm in two minds. There's a bit of me that would not be remotely
surprised if he only wanted to do one term - it almost feels now as if
he is bored with the job given he's delegated almost every role to a
deputy. I've no doubt he's hugely ambitious and would love to be PM. It
creates a potential nightmare for the Tory Party though if he decides to
pursue that ambition. I would not wish to be in David Cameron's shoes.

I think he can relax a bit. The rules for the Conservative leadership would
make it difficult for Boris to force a contest let alone get his candidacy
to the party membership (who are not that enthusiastic for a BoJo
premiership anyway).

Tony Polson wrote in
:

"Recliner" wrote:

However, an old Etonian would never show the
sort of naked ambition that lesser mortals do.


Yet Cameron shows it!


Cameron's already leader...

Incidentally, Boris endorsed Cameron in the leadership election:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4104286.stm


I think Boris could be doing some clever positioning here. Cameron won't
want to go on too long - assuming a Tory win next year, if Boris doesn't
stand for a second term as Mayor he can be back in Parliament in 2014 and
ready for a contest in 2017-2018 before a 2019 GE.