Boris in secret talks to hire City Hall executives

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Mr Johnson, who is ahead of the Mayor in the latest polls, has been holding negotiations with experts in the fields of transport and housing.

Their identity has remained a closelyguarded secret as Mr Johnson seeks to avoid claims of being too presumptuous about winning. But party insiders are understood to be anxious that he surrounds himself with a high-calibre team to counter Labour attacks that he is too inexperienced for the job.

As mayor he would be responsible for an £11 billion annual budget as well as running the transport network.

The Tory leadership is aware that all eyes will be on the capital if Mr Johnson wins and that the city must be well run to repeat the election success nationally. Asked if there were concerns-that a poorly-run London could damage David Cameron's chances at the next election, a shadow cabinet member said: "Absolutely. We need very good people in place to help Boris."

Mr Johnson's aides have denied the party leadership is directly involved in such plans and insist their main concern is getting him into City Hall.

However, a transitions team of senior Tories, including party chairman Caroline Spelman and shadow London minister Bob Neill, is working with the Tory candidate to line up executives.

"Boris is having discussions with people," one Tory insider admitted. "He's naturally thinking about how his policies could be implemented." He is being advised on his campaign strategy by Australian elections guru Lynton Crosby, who worked for Michael Howard at the last general election.

Members of the Conservative City Circle, a networking and fundraising group run by the party, are being asked to recruit co-workers to the campaign.

Recent opinion polls showing a double-digit lead for the Tories nationally appear to be mirrored by a swing against Mr Livingstone in London.

A YouGov survey for the Evening Standard last week gave Mr Johnson a 12-point lead, with a 49 per cent share of the vote, compared with 37 per cent for Mr Livingstone and 12 per cent for Lib-Dem candidate Brian Paddick.