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London Tories look to a future without Boris
Katharine Barney24.04.09
Boris Johnson has fired the starting gun on a three-year race to be the next Tory candidate for City Hall.
The Mayor's revelation that he might not stand again, made in the Evening Standard, created shockwaves in Conservative circles.
It is so early in the electoral cycle that no clear camps have emerged in City Hall. Even the mechanism of a selection process is not in place. But already a clear picture has emerged of some of the likely candidates — and who would be the choice of Central Office.
Ultimately the decision on who could stand would be made by David Cameron — the man who ditched the last selection process and parachuted in Mr Johnson, and on current polling figures is likely to also be in Downing Street.
He would be presented with the choice of a City Hall insider, who would inevitably be close to Mr Johnson and associated with his regime, or finding a candidate to take on Labour in what would be a mid-term referendum on the Government. Already Conservative Central Office figures have formed a view that they would rather have a high-profile candidate who would energise the election, not a local government figure.
One name widely touted is youth worker Shaun Bailey, 37, who is currently Tory candidate for Hammersmith, and a rare commodity as a black Conservative who already has a profile.
A Tory source said: “There is no doubt that Shaun is young, gifted and black, which would make him very difficult for Labour to attack.”
Today Mr Bailey told the Standard he was open to the idea.
“For now all my attention is on winning Hammersmith but if the worst came to the worst there [and I didn't win] then why not?” he said. “I'd have to discuss it with my association because they've put so much work into me but I'm sure they'd be behind me.
“I'm a Londoner born and bred, I've lived both sides of the river and I know the difficulties of growing up in this city, what problems kids are going through and how to help them.”
But several other people in the London Tory scene would be certain to stand.
Within City Hall, Kit Malthouse, is emerging as the clear favourite. Regarded as highly capable, he is already the Mayor's deputy on the Metropolitan Police Authority.
He was closely involved in getting rid of Sir Ian Blair and is also the man who told Mr Johnson to back Sir Paul Stephenson as the new commissionerrather than Sir Hugh Orde.
His political fortunes may rest entirely with Sir Paul's ability at the head of the Yard.
Other options are the deputy leader of the Tories on the Assembly, James Cleverly, Assembly members Victoria Borwick and Andrew Boff, Conservative candidate for Richmond Park Zac Goldsmith and policy adviser Nick Boles.
Who's in the frame to replace Boris
Reader views (20)
Boris can't go, he's a national treasure and cheers me up. I don't care if he screws up London to be honest, it's just nice to have someone funny and mad around.
- Frankie, London
Quite right Frankie, London, Quite right!
We have plenty of them around that are mad, but none of them funny!
Since he has allowed me and my peers to use the bus lanes with our motorbikes, travelling on the Red Routes has been a dream!
Which reminds me,.......Haven't seen any written squawks from the pedalling fraternity since it all started,.....or maybe I should keep my trap shut,and let sleeping road-pavement-hogs lie?
Can't wait to see the pedalling fraternity galvanise their vitriolic pens into action over my above comments!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX
"There is something about Boris i like, but Richard Barnbrook is one step ahead."
- Yvonne, harrow Weald
Richard Barnbrook? The BNP's attempts to make itself look like a national political party continues (thanks so much, Yvonne) instead of the race hate movement for fantasy-prone losers that it really is.
- Martin, London, UK
There is something about Boris i like, but Richard Barnbrook is one step ahead.
- Yvonne, harrow Weald
Seems Johnson has after all just used to his own ends those who wanted a Tory mayor. Thought - momentarily - he might be a decent chap. Won't be voting for you old dear.
- Annabelle, london
Boris must do 2 full terms to show the depth of his abilities.
If he wishes to return to Parliament after that, he'll be a star & obviously a cabinet minister.
As it is, he's only just started to cheer up London.
Also the Conservatives have a very electable leader, no need for the kind of infighting that has destroyed Labour's chances for 15 years (hopefully more )
Martin.
- Martin, Bracknell England
Get ready for re-election, Ken! Your politics may not be everyones' cup of tea, but by God you care about London and will move it forward for everyones' good unlike this self-seeking idiot who can't even handle a whole year in power.
- Steve, London, UK
I hope Boris runs again for Mayor....if he doesn't run for PM. BJ seems to be the only politician at present with any real integrity, honesty, and sense of accountability to the heavily burdened taxpayer. The Lefties can't stand him for taking them to task on everything from expenses corruption to public spending waste, and the Tories running the government don't like him for acting and speaking like a true Conservative rather than catering to the socialist namby pambies like they do. Boris is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stale confines of the British political elite universe. Thank goodness he didn't enter his Mayorial position as a professional politician. He's a great intellect who has the courage, ability, and audacity to stand up against the ever growing socialist nanny/Big Brother state which is sweeping the UK. We need Boris Johnson for PM if not for Mayor!!
- Gc, London
Thank god he's on the way out. Has lifted my day to find out he's going. Now let's get Ken back in, at least he had a coherent view of what needed to get done rather than populist, expensive, pandering policies with no cohesion.
- Mcw, London
London Tories look to a future without Boris"
Truth be told, we all look towards a future without Boris Johnson. He has only been in the job 5 minutes abd he just can't take the pressures of the job. He is barely a part time politician
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Ken Livingstone big mistake was rejoining the Labour Party.
The Labour Party set Dobson against him; and they lost to Ken; who was then an independent candidate etc.
The last election for Mayor was more a whack at New Labour, than Ken himself.
As a life long Socialist; New Labour has changed my opinion of all Political Party Groups; now I will vote only for the man; and not the Party.
I do not think many working class people will ever trust the Labour Party again; this lot have shamed all the great labour leaders of the past; and they shamed them from day one, by not reversing the destruction the Tories did under Margaret Thatcher; instead they emulated her and the Tory Party.
Vote for the Person; and not the Party; this will end political dogma and propaganda once and for all.
As for London; it will still be here; no-matter who runs it; you cannot destroy London; it is indestructible.
- Mickyinlondon, london
With the greatest of respect to most of those people mentioned, the Conservatives would need a far bigger hitter/ name than any of those, a celeb perhaps?
- Mick, london
To all those Livingstonista's who are still bitter.
If as you regularly claim BoJo is a clown, useless, hopeless, a liability, unsuitable, evil, too fat, too thin, too tall etc etc.
Consider this.
He beat your man hollow in a free and fair vote. If he could do that with all of your claimed flaws then what does that say about Ken?
Think about it - the better man won.
Personally I think BoJo is superb.
- Ethan, UK
It just goes to show how rocky his position is,starting the c ampaign so early, boris is not a person that l like at all, all he thinks of is himself and those people that run him, he seems to make decisions that only make money not in the real london,which is gradually being eroded by him and his co-horts and the politcians making it a police state by all the restrictions, these people are so afraid of their own shadows.When we see Her Majesty the Queen you do not see the huge amount of security guards around her, she knows that she is safe as l am sure her security people are there but not seen.The Queen is the best ambassador for London and the United Kingdom,not some jumped up politician like boris and his mates. Come on Londoners WAKE UP and put a person in as mayor someone who is a genuine londoner,not an outsider. .
- Meg,Former Essex Girl, merthyr,south wales
Boris will remain as Mayor until 2016 at which time he may well be a serious contender to take over from Cameron as PM, but only if DC feels the need to step aside, which I think is unlikely.
End of story.
- St, London
Boris has brought a lot of humour to his role as Mayor of London. I think his skills are best seen when he is writing and making great TV programmes. I can see that he would like to be PM and I would wish him every success if thats what he decides to do next.
Hopefully Ken Livingstone can be persuaded to run again as I think that in hindsight he was a pretty good bloke who was genuinely interested in getting London moving. Hopefully he will stay focused next time and leave weird and wonderful antics to others!
- Damien Vaugh, London,UK
If Boris decides to run as Mayor again or even stands for PM one day, he will cruise into City Hall or No. 10 in a chariot. Whatever Boris decides to do, he is a leader in his own right. He genuinely relates to people and comes across as someone who won't take up a line if it's wrong for Londoners. He clearly makes up his own mind on issues and has the strength of character to say what he thinks.
In short, Boris has the faith of Londoners and the country behind him because he's genuine. There’s no hint of anything Machiavellian about Boris – he’s the type of bloke who can be trusted with gerbils, grannies and Rosie Boycott’s carrots.
Even when bashed by meddlers with poisonous agendas, Boris always fights back. He won't shy out of saying something just because it might not be politically correct, and he’s clearly in this for Londoners, particularly the youth.
Furthermore, the Johnson mayoralty is gathering pace at a time when people are sick and tired of being run by the crooked Labour Party. People are looking for honesty and personality in politics. Boris can deliver both.
Give it a few years and everyone will be wearing togas, reciting poetry, growing potatoes, playing ping pong, and dangling grapes at one another. What a great way to live.
- Fiona, UK
The UK doesn't need a 'National Treasure' for PM, it needs an international statesman/woman, with a clear vision to manage the country for long-term prosperity and happiness. The Lord Mayor of London does his job for one year for FREE - and he has to pay for all his own expenses: offer a deal like that for Mayor of London, and stop following him with press photographers, and candidates like Boris and Ken wouldn't even apply, let alone nurture grandiose personal ambitions for No. 10. Ultimately, the Mayor of London was a fairly impotent position designed to mollify the English for not getting a National Assembly like the Celtic parts of Britain. It is being used as a springboard into higher politics by be people who couldn't cut the mustard otherwise. Boris is displaying the same characteristics as the 'Bungying Boss' of the Dilbert cartoons!
- Roz, France
Boris makes me smile. He can't seem to say something without putting his foot in it and making a mistake and that's why I like him. We need more who don't pander to the PC brigade in politics and think they can engineer our way of thinking.
- Sarah, Chelmsford
boris has made some good decisions,not extending c zone westwards.
however he is still answerable to brussels,as he is mayor of an eu regional assembly,
there are too many paid non-entities,quangos which should be culled in this recession.
i will hope people vote ukip or for a genuine Independent in june
- Robin, london,euro zone south 24
Boris can't go, he's a national treasure and cheers me up. I don't care if he screws up London to be honest, it's just nice to have someone funny and mad around.
- Frankie, London
