Boris: I'll defy Cameron to get best for London

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Mr Johnson said he would "gladly embarrass" whoever was in No 10 to make sure the capital got the best deal possible from the Government.

Speaking on BBC Question Time last night he said: "I will be independent in the sense that I will speak up for London irrespective of whatever my party, or the party leadership, should dictate.

"Any mayor of London is going to have to bang the table with any government. I would gladly embarrass any government that is in power if it was in the interests of Londoners."

He has already opposed Heathrow expansion and called for a one-off amnesty for illegal immigrants, both of which are against Tory policy nationally.

Ken Livingstone insisted the election was not a referendum on Gordon Brown amid concern Londoners could use it to give Mr Brown a kicking. He said that without the Prime Minister giving the capital billions of pounds for Crossrail, police and housing his campaign would be "struggling".

Mr Johnson's comments come after reports the Tory shadow cabinet have been told to keep their distance from Mr Johnson if he wins the mayoral race.

The leadership was said to be concerned that the infamously gaffe-prone MP could damage David Cameron if he hit any trouble once at City Hall.

Mr Johnson further risked infuriating his party today by calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal use. He said the law should be "flexible" when it was used for pain relief, undermining the Tories' hardline position just weeks after they described Gordon Brown's drugs policy as being "in chaos". Shadow home secretary David Davis has urged the Government to reclassify the drug as a Class B substance.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Johnson said: "I do think there is a case when cannabis is being used to alleviate severe and chronic pain, that the law should be flexible."