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Boris Johnson mourns his lost summer house
Peter Dominiczak7 Aug 2009
Boris Johnson said he was in mourning for his "deceased shed" after planning officers forced him to remove it from his family home
The mayor of London accused LBC Radio's Nick Ferrari of "intruding in a private grief" as he batted away questions about what he had done with the structure.
"You wouldn't ask someone to say what they have done with the ashes of a deceased relative," he said.
Islington Council ordered Mr Johnson to remove the shed from his Grade II-listed house in north London after he failed to apply for planning permission.
The mayor, who has planning powers within London, made light of the episode when he was questioned about it this morning.
He said he was grateful to Islington Council for "the advice they gave", but went on: "I think there is a time when a chap should be allowed to mourn his shed.
"There is a lot of folklore about sheds and people get very attached to them."
Pressed for details about what he kept in it and where it had gone, he added: "I think this is becoming intrusive - it's foot-in-the-door journalism.
"It's a deceased shed. It's no longer with us."
He eventually disclosed that there had been nothing in the shed and that he had taken it down himself.
Reader views (18)
Men usually put their sheds at the end of the garden as far away from the family as possible, why didn't he do that, once he had got permission if necessary. To be serious this is so bad one wonders if he was trying to make a point, or is he so insensitive to his neighbours and his house he doesn't care.
- Daphne, London UK, 08/08/2009 12:51
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I find the story and image really funny. Imagine Boris trying to put this thing together. The structure itself looks a bit skewed but honestly couldnt have seen a more genuine human effort.
- Yogesh, London, 07/08/2009 13:41
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Keith Grey: The politics of envy don't only come from Labour councillors, they can also emanate from Labour neighbours!
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK, 07/08/2009 11:10
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it's so bad it looks like a poorly photoshopped attempt by Labour to discredit Uncle Boris.
- Squiz, Islington, 07/08/2009 07:46
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Peter Thurgood - 'This isn't about planning permission. This is about Labour politics of envy, as usual.'
Islington Council is Lib Dem, not Labour. Is your comment based on hypocrisy i.e tory politicians can do no wrong - all others do?!
So predictable
- Keith Grey, North London, 06/08/2009 22:59
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I wonder how much this cost the taxpayer ?
- Ronnie, UK, 06/08/2009 17:25
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Travelers moving into the neighborhood?
- Trunk, US, 06/08/2009 16:24
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Tut-tut, ignoring the planning laws and upsetting the nimbys. Just think of the effect on house prices darling.
He'd have got less of a reaction for committing murder.
- George, London, 06/08/2009 15:37
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I can't disagree with the other residents. -It looks like the eco warriors have moved in!
- Tony H, Cumbernauld Scotland, 06/08/2009 14:46
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I have to admit, it was a pretty ropy looking structure, which I am surprised he even contemplated in the first place.
But let's be honest about this, it wouldn't have mattered if he had employed a top designer to build him something there, and applied for planning permission, the Labour council would still have shot it down.
This isn't about planning permission. This is about Labour politics of envy, as usual.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK, 06/08/2009 14:28
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I like Boris, a lot, but my God what a stupid thing to do! Not only to disregard planning laws, but to do so in a listed building?
Come on mate, pull yourself together...
- John, London, 06/08/2009 14:09
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Good work Boris, you made a mistake but you owned up and fixed it. We're only human.
- Sarah, London, 06/08/2009 13:51
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At least Boris has a bit of taste unlike Ken Livingstone who wanted us all to live in glass carbuncles.
- Gail, London, 06/08/2009 13:48
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Boris should be allowed to build whatever he wants! He is mayor after all. I think it looks lovely and Boris deserves a nice little space to relax in for being such a hardworking campaigner for London.
- Kimberley, London, 06/08/2009 13:46
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Blatant anti-male sexism, you see this all up and down the country with men being deprived of their sheds. It's a Harriet Harman led conspiracy to break our will and full fill their plans for men to die early from stress induced by being unable to hide from the missus.
- Robert, London, 06/08/2009 13:33
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It's a bit ugly, but we all need a bolthole to go to sometimes and with a wife and four children I am sure Boris needs one too!!
- Sally Roberts, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom, 06/08/2009 13:20
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Poor Boris! Like every other bloke in London (over a certain age...) he just wanted a shed to potter about in. A little place to call your own where you can get away from the missus and the kids. It think it is very mean of his neighbours and Islington Council to take away the only place that he could his own!
- Henry Lamprecht, North London, 06/08/2009 12:56
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Just goes to show how much Boris knows about planning permission!!!
I suppose he could appeal to the Mayor of London!
Come in handy Guy Fawkes night.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 06/08/2009 11:52
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