Boris Johnson in pole position for 2012 - for now

Admittedly, both Labour and the Lib-Dems have yet to choose their candidate, which gives the incumbent an unfair advantage at this point, but it suggests that Boris has, in his first term, made a genuine impact.

His most concrete achievement, the Boris bikes, are a practical contribution to the capital's needs; he may have more good ideas for a second term, although he has yet to set out a vision.

More important so far, though, Mr Johnson has promised that he genuinely cares about and is engaged with London. He is now in the position of being a heavyweight Conservative Mayor engaging with a Conservative-dominated coalition in Westminster. He has taken a robust position in arguing to limit the impact of cuts on London, above all on improvements to the Tube and on the commitment to Crossrail. He has also defied his party's plans for immigration quotas, a move causing disquiet in the City. He has, as a Tory, greater leverage inside the tent than outside.

Mr Johnson had the handicap when he first sought office that many people thought his real ambition was to be Prime Minister. That aspiration looks less realistic now, with David Cameron firm in his role as Prime Minister and Mr Johnson outside Parliament. But if Mr Johnson's ambitions are now focused on London, that is good news for the capital. He could, if he won a second term, bring his abilities more directly to bear on the future of London. It might not be possible to make London resemble his favourite political model, the ancient Greek city-state, but he could ensure that its uniqueness is enhanced and its challenges more squarely confronted.

It is in the interests of London to have a distinctive figure as Mayor; like his predecessor, Ken Livingstone, Mr Johnson is his own man and seems genuinely to enjoy the job.

There are a little over 18 months to go before the poll but it is time for him to start thinking of what he could do if he won — and for his challengers, about how they will confront his popularity.

999 calls and cuts

One of the premises behind the Government's public spending cuts is that frontline services should be protected and spending reduced instead on bureaucracy and executive pay. That is not quite how it looks in the most frontline service of all, the paramedics who are called out to answer emergency calls. Under plans announced today, ambulances in the capital will in future respond to a minority of 999 calls, with the majority of incidents instead seeing a lone paramedic in a car. The change will be introduced in south-east London and will be given a three-month trial after Christmas.

Lives could be lost during this period if the idea does not work as planned. As one paramedic has suggested, it would be more sensible if resources were directed instead into improving the way emergency calls are taken to enable staff to identify real emergencies. NHS cuts must be made, but this is not the place to make them.

McQueen of Fashion

London Fashion Week takes time for a sombre moment today, with a memorial service for Alexander McQueen, once the enfant terrible of the event. His exuberant creativity did Britain proud and did London proud; he deserves the plaudits of his peers.