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Boris bandwagon gets rolling as 100 backers an hour sign up
Last updated at 10:07am on 17.07.07
Boris Johnson will run for London Mayor
Boris Johnson emerged today as the overwhelming public choice to take on Ken Livingstone in the election for Mayor of London.
Clear evidence of Mr Johnson's appeal came when supporters signed up to his mayoral bid at a rate of more than 100 every hour.
A campaign website, backboris.com, recorded 583 pledges of support in its first five and a half hours.
Thousands more have jumped on the Boris bandwagon using the internet social network, Facebook.
Over the past couple of years, 11,509 members have joined a group calling itself The Boris Johnson Appreciation Society, while 1,665 have joined the biggest of 18 different groups calling themselves Boris for Mayor.
An exclusive Standard poll reveals today that in London the maverick Tory MP polls 23 per cent to Mr Livingstone's 32 per cent - with more than a quarter of voters undecided.
The Ciao Surveys poll shows that he would narrow the gap even further as he attracts more second preference votes than Mr Livingstone. The survey, carried out a week ago before Mr Johnson formally declared he would run, found that the former Spectator editor is by far the most popular Conservative candidate and now seems certain to clinch his party's nomination this summer.
In a clear indication that Londoners have an appetite for a high-profile challenger to Mr Livingstone, former BBC director general Greg Dyke came third in the poll with nine per cent, ahead of the Liberal Democrats on six per cent and Big Issue founder John Bird on five per cent.
At the last mayoral election in 2004, Mr Livingstone was re-elected after beating Steve Norris.
Mr Livingstone polled 36 per cent of first preference votes to his Tory rival's 28 per cent. The Labour mayor secured his victory by pulling in many more second preference votes than his rival.
Our poll shows Mr Livingstone would get 10 per cent of second preferences, Mr Johnson 13 per cent and Mr Dyke 16 per cent. The Lib Dems, who have yet to select their candidate, would get 14 per cent, while Mr Bird would attract 11 per cent.
David Cameron is committed to a USstyle primary contest, giving all London voters and not just Tories the chance to choose his candidate.
The survey found that 38 per cent of voters believed Mr Johnson would be the best Conservative candidate.
Mr Norris, who last night declared he was not running, was the only other contender who got into double figures, at just over 10 per cent.
Mr Dyke, who clashed with Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell over the BBC's coverage of the war in Iraq, is still weighing up whether he can win the mayoral race.
He was in talks with Mr Cameron over standing as an independent with Tory and Lib-Dem backing, but the deal collapsed after opposition from Lib-Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell.
The Johnson campaign team today claimed that the MP's office at the Commons had also been deluged with calls offering support, as had other MPs known to be his friends.
"It is just amazing," said one volunteer. "The phones have not stopped ringing and people are begging to be given a role in the campaign."
The excited buzz after Mr Johnson's launch in yesterday's Evening Standard was being seen by Conservatives as a vindication of his decision to run against Mr Livingstone, even though he could end up losing both his bid for City Hall and his seat in the Commons for Henley.
"I've even been called by Australian television asking for more details about Boris," said one campaign member.
Mr Johnson's capacity for building a fanbase was underlined when 2,087 Facebook members signed up to a tongue-in-cheek group, Boris Johnson for Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson appears to be winning the internet fight and, with it, the battle to appeal to young people who may have little interest in politics normally. A group called Get Ken Out boasts 1,137 members while Get Boris In has 1,591.
Another group called the Ken Livingstone Appreciation Society so far boasts 184 members - though that could soar if the rival supporters' groups begin campaigning in earnest on the internet.
The Mayor is still the best known of the pair. A Google search for Mr Livingstone obtains 1.4 million "hits" while his rival's name brings 983,000.
The poll was carried out by Ciao Surveys for the Evening Standard. It involved 1,000 people living in the London boroughs.
Reader views (30)
Boris is one of the few polititians on the planet who say what they really think and I think there are a lot of people who can recognise this virtue.
Go on Boris! If you fail in London have a go in Liverpool!
- Chris, Birmingham, England
James - the man in the Monkey outfit has done more for Hartlepool than the current EU Commissioner ever did while he was its MP. Don't mock those who understand local history.
Boris will make a difference - he knows how to have fun while still being proud of one's traditions - an important selling point for London.
London needs a change of Mayor - Boris is the right choice.
- Paul H-J, Potters Bar
Long live Boris. I think he will be a very good Mayor.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Our loss will be London's gain. Boris will make an excellent mayor of London.
- Patricia, Near Henley
People pass Boris off as a joker, when in fact this is a clever act he puts on to disarm his opponents and sugar coat the messages he is conveying to the public.
- Edward, New York City and London
Celebrity buffoon, but then again Arnold Schwarzenegger got elected.
- Mick, London, England
Bye ken, and welcome Boris, who is someone who will say what we all feel, and not scared by the do gooder groups, who so many bow down to now!
- Graham, Southend on sea, UK
Excellent, Boris gets my vote.
- Annabelle, London
In defence of Boris, if you read what he writes for the papers, you'll see that behind that buffoonish image lurks an intelligent and free thinking man. I suspect that whereas most politicians try to appear smarter than they really are, Boris does well by appearing dimmer!
Anyway, a contest across the political divide between two people who aren't afraid to speak their minds. It'll be fun.
- Nigel, London
Tremendous, little short of superb. On cracking form.
- Roger, London
Time for a change, Boris gets my vote.
- H. O'Dell, Royston, Herts
Boris cycles everywhere. I saw him myself the other week near Blackfriars Bridge, the blonde thatch (no helmet) unmistakable. Intellectually he's in a different league from Livingstone and most other politicians. He's a classicist, has written history books, a novel, edited the Spectator, been by all accounts a diligent constituency MP, as well as penning countless witty and insightful articles on all manner of issues.
- Sean, London
Excellent to see the Tories happy to have a well known 'name' running -didn't see too much mentioned about policy or track record?
I can hear the guffaws from the London Assembly at the prospect of Boris adopting a mockney accent, dressed in a shiny Pearly King outfit, doing Knees up Mother Brown.
- Lilly, London
Go for it Boris. I find it more difficult moving around London since Ken started. Transport does not work and Ken only wants to get international press events and more people so that he can show off what he calls "his city". Ken - we do not want the mess and the financial burden of the Olympics etc. We want lower taxes and a better city for Londoners. I think that is what Boris will get us! My vote is for Boris.
- Paul, Primrose Hill, London
I am totally for Livingstone. Lots of good has been done with him as Mayor. He has limited powers as Mayor, but given those constraints he has done a lot to boost investment and confidence in London.
Johnson doesn't strike me as the change sort. He doesn't strike me as a person with dynamic new ideas and the courage to see them fulfilled. He seems to be an anti-Ken rather than the first Boris.
- Karl, London, UK
Just bear in mind that Livingstone only got effectively 15% of the available votes in the previous election, because of the very poor turnouts. The trick is if you're not going to vote for him, make sure everybody is consistent with their second choice as he might sneak back in again.
As a born and bred Londoner, Livingstone has done nothing for me, or anybody I know, other than continually rob us to pay for his sycophants and forever expanding bureaucracies.
- Mark, South-East London
As London is already a laughing stock, I can't see Boris making it worse!
- Mike, England
We need a change for London! No more international PR and getting projects that fill up London even more. "Getting" the olympics has proved a disaster and an unpopular one. I doubt Caroline is really from London or she must be on the extensive Livingstone Council payroll.
- Mack, London
I can't see public transport being a priority for Boris Johnson - the thought of him as mayor irks me big time. Livingstone is irritating, but a lot of good has been done in the last few years, despite many constraints. He will still get my vote for that reason alone.
- David, London
Whatever you think about Livingstone he is a committed Londoner, who is investing in transport and bringing world class events to the city.
He's a serious mayor for a serious city. Having Johnson in charge would make the capital a laughing stock around the world - it's like Hartlepool electing a bloke in a monkey outfit.
- James, United Kingdom
London if you do not want Boris we will jump at the chance.
- Dave, Bristol England
Ken loves London and has done a remarkable job. London looks and feels great. The Tour de France only last week is just one example of the great PR Ken has done for London. The prospect of him being replaced by an irritating idiot is a miserable one.
- Caroline, London
Boris will have my vote. Ken is also a character, but not a very likeable one.
- Dan, London
At last someone one who says what he means!
- Mike, England
Anyone who genuinely cares about London can see that we desperately need a change of team at City Hall. Livingstone has had two terms to grind his axes and inflate his ego at the expense of London taxpayers. He is unfit to represent us.
Don't let ridiculous class hatred rear its head in this contest. I'd much rather have a well-educated, humourous toff like Boris Johnson as my mayor than Dave Spart of the People's Republic of Brent.
- Sarah N., London
Will Boris drop the Congestion Charge? Norris said he would abolish it
Will Boris support improvement of Public Transport? Never a high priority from the party that privatised the railway. What exactly has Boris got to offer the people of London?
- Paulo Ucello, London UK
Brilliant - This man will make our city great again. Lets get the current mayor out. Hopefully the Tories will then win the general election and the grown ups will be in power again.
- James Sharman, London, UK
What a relief, someone to finally oust Ken. Way to go Boris, I'll certainly be voting for you.
- Geraldine, London
Better than red Ken. Go for it Boris you have my vote.
- Trixie, London NW3
Great. Boris is a chance for the better! London needs to go back to its roots.
- Billy, London
