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I like Boris.... I wish we had someone like him.
I feel I am missing out here in Canada. (sniff)

Come and sort out our "dictators".

"Oh Canada, land of the fee..."

- W.Palmer, North Vancouver, Canada

Isn't Paxo a substance used to stuff up turkeys? Paxo was invented in 1901 by John Crampton, a butcher from Eccles near Manchester; he wanted to help make Sunday lunches more exciting for his customers.

This particular Paxo has totally stuffed up Newsnight by making himself and the programme looks like a total turkey. I'm so sick of hearing about the Bullingdon boys. So what! They have a normal laddish university past. Big deal! They are human after all. He seems bitter.

Paxo would do better to stop plucking about, stop being so politically biased and stop bashing anyone he evidently feels is his intellectual superior. He must have a complex of some kind. Boris did well to let him know he should get stuffed.

- Fiona, London UK

Boris cracking laugh - v.clever chap. afterall whose line is it anyway?

He will never be caught aligning himself with anything, he is not a details man and its the details or taking positions that trip you up. Bit like his spell as London mayor

- Bob, london

Keith Price should be venting his spleen at his local Luton M.P.

- Spike, london.england

Hit the spot and brought laughter and tears to my eyes...the BBC couldn't have paid for comedy like this even if it wanted to.

- Harry, Ontario, Canada

Paxman's salary must mean that he is one of the few Brits able to afford a holiday in Europe this year.

- Mark, Venice, Italy

It's a pity Boris's brain isn't comparable with said ' Blessed Sponge' and able absorb coherent information! Having said that, the Tories act like amnesiacs when it comes to spelling out their policies!

- Steve Mclellan, Chelmsford

Boris - you are wonderful. Keep it up. Finally a great and real exchange...get that Paxman jumping!

- Tanya H, London

Since when do self-employed people have salaries? We'll be reading claims that GPs are employees of hte NHS next!

- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON. UK

Good old Boris!! Love him.

- Dep, London

What a blustering buffoon. I'm so ashamed and embarrassed that my great city has that as its leader.

- Richard, London

Roger Bailey is right, we don't need to have seen the exchange to comment on it.

we already know that Boris is wrong.

- Keith Price, Luton England

Its time these BBC prima donnas got brought down a peg or two they just like the MPs enjoy a life style that we the voters cannot.Yet they sit there sneering making cheap points about wealthy tories.Andrew Marr did the same on sunday to David Camaron.Funny how they never tackle Blaire about his wealth.

- David Smith, Croydon

Boris Johnson or Jeremy Paxman they are of the same ilk.
Indicative of a class ridden,corrupt society,
These jobs are reserved for over privileged Bureaucrats from generation to generation.
The technology makes the class system wider .
Read George Orwells 1984 or Aldous Huxleys Brave New World,they were wise Men indeed

- Barry Deane, Richmond, United Kingdom

But, because some people do not like Boris' politics, they try to paint him as a fool, which is a foolish as saying that Albert Einstein was an idiot because of his manic hairstyle"
Putting Einstein and Boris in the same sentence is as offensive as saying Simon Cowell should be President of the EU

- Keith Price, Luton England

Boris is very shy about discussing the 250,000 that the Telegraph pays him for half an hour's work a week. I think he uses the expression'Mind your own business'.

- C Morgan, Kensington England

Paxman and Johnson,two hideously overpaid prima donna's,does anyone really care about their girly hissing fit?,both legends in their own minds.

- Reginald Bosanquet, Kentish Gulag.

When was the last time anyone heard Johnson give a straight answer to a question? It usually ends up with Bozo blustering about everything and anything but the question he was asked. A lot of people are now starting to see through this clown. He is getting enough rope, given time he will hang himself.

- James, Manchester England

If Cameroon loses or gets a minority government and loses popular support, Boris would make an excellent leader of the Conservatives. He could be PM by 2020 if not 2014.

- Paul Lettan, Old St Pancras, London

"cheap attack by Boris."

Rubbish, a robust offensive after Paxman lowered the tone of the interview by questioning him about getting drunk @ Uni over a quarter of a century ago?!

Pathetic lefty BBC drivel.

Paxman is and has been a t-totaler all his life I assume.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

"the blessed sponge of amnesia has wiped the slate clean"

You gotta love Boris.... great interview.

- Des, Wickford

"Boris really has become the voice of London" When did the sound of London become droning flatulence? Is Johnson so ignorant to think that the way to answer a reasonable question is to change the subject. Ahh, of course...he's just another bog standard tacky politician.

- Richard, London UK

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! Boris for Prime Minister in the future! At last, a politician that tells it like it is! More please, Boris!

- Jack Raymond, london

Paxman is an overpaid loser. He got nowhere in his interview with Johnson, only to confirm that he could not hold a candle to the grade of intelligence of The Mayor of London. When the time comes to review the value for money of the BBC Paxman will the high on the list of cuts to be made.

- Albert Hall, hove england

Watching and Reading Boris's Blustering, Bombastic, Buffooning, Burlesque, Barn-storming over the last few days, I find it impossible to have any faith in him, that he can is able to really Help London!
His declaration that he is going to Save £5-Billion from the TFL budget, is LAUDABLE - if it does not mean further Degradation in LONDON'S MOBILITY.
His decision of last year to Abandon the CROSS-RIVER TRAM PROJECT, on which Millions had already been spent, was indicative of Boris's easy 'hot-air' manner: simplistically brushing-aside the consequences.
I have yet to see the Paxman encounter, but other interviews with Boris this past week, have seen him dismiss Andrew Neil and others, without any real answers.

- Roger Bailey, GROVE PARK, LONDON

Seemed all very childish watching it last night. Quite painful infact. Boris needs to grow up a bit.

- Neil Carter, London, UK

I saw the exchange, and it was all good fun for the most part. Boris hardly ever actually got tetchy and, as is often the case when Paxman is put on the back foot, he dropped his incredulous expression and started to join in the amusement.

Yes, I agree that the BBC are probably opting for a Conservative government, as is most of the media. It's a new story for them, like Obama, and that's their main agenda.

- Clive Morris, London

The BBC "talent" have the audacity question how much erudite able people earn, yet they cannot justify the gross amounts they themselves are paid for mediocrity. I wish Boris would bring this up in an open forum.

- Ram2009, Reading, UK

Leaving aside the question of who was ruder, Boris or Jeremy, I cannot see why BBC employees who are paid from public funds should not have their salaries published. As for BBC bias, their leftish leanings are all too obvious and are consistently displayed to any impartial viewer/listener. Not that it matters much in the overall scheme of things. Most people have worked this out for themselves. It is only committed lefties who think they are fooling people with their spurious fake outrage. Today, Newsnight and PM please note.

- James Elliott, Eastborne UK

"They don't like it up 'em, do they?"

Brilliant Boris, we all want to know how much our politicised civil servant toffs(including those in the BBC) get paid for supporting Liebore.

- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh, North Britain

Say what you like, Boris does not cave in to Paxman.
As he was also talking about OUR money, TV License fee, Paxman wages, etc, a fair question I thought. At least he is different and not boring. Bring back Ken and I will turn the lights out!!!!!!!

- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19

Having watched the BBC edited highlights of this I really can't understand people saying Boris dodged questions . Paxman asked him the same 'theoretical' question on a referendum goodness knows how many times and Boris answered it every time - do you people who think he didn't answer it want me to write it down on a piece of paper in diagram form so you can see it?

He wants a referendum but is not sure if it a legal possibility once ratification has taken place. There, not that difficult to uunderstand is it.

- Rob, London

"cheap attack by Boris."

Rubbish cheap obsessional lefty attack by Paxman countered by Boris. It's the same attack that class obsessed Hazel Blears used again and again and again. How many times do you see Paxman attacking Labour figures for their communist/Maxist pasts? As for the BBC using tax money for keeping Paxman's millions a secret Boris was spot on.

- Marky, London

I'm getting so bored hearing all this inverted snobbery about Eton/Oxford educated politicians. After listening to the pondlife at the Labour conference it is about time we had a government with more than a few brain cells between them. I'm also getting really bored about this referendum issue... what is so complicated to understand?? If Gordo+the rest of the EU have signed on the dotted line nothing can be done about it, period! What is the point of having a referendum that may say we dont agree with what we have already commited to? As Boris says...the scandal remains the broken Labour promise to hold a vote.

- Bob H, London

Boris for Prime Minister. Thanks for putting the video up on the web. I quite enjoyed it and I think it is clear that Boris was invited to speak directly to camera. It was a good humoured exchange and I think Boris is infinitely more able to lead the country than the Clegg Lookalike, Cameron.

- Peace Maker, Battersea

As far as I could tell Boris answered the main question regarding a referendum on Lisbon. The question was simple "do you want a referendum on Lisbon?" The answer was simple, "yes, but only if it hasn't been ratified". How else is he meant to answer it? Sounds perfectly clear to me!

The rest of the interview was pure entertainment and very enjoyable - why shouldn't Boris question Paxman? That's what politics desperately needs - someone with intelligence, whit and charisma and now it's got it in the mayor of London.

- Ac, London

and I should point out, few people are as in touch as those in the political heartland of Luton.

Boris should spend some time here, and see what really matters.

- Keith Price, Luton England

Paxman is swollen headed. whatever he earns it's far too much

- El Del, Valencia Spain

Paxo should have asked Boris if newspapers pay way over the odds for journalists and column writers?

One point in todays speech was announcemanet that regional government would be abolished, wonder if this includes the Mayor of London and GLA?

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

Some of the comments on here regarding Boris, really make me laugh. (almost)

Boris Johnson is an extremely clever man, an intellectual, who can hold his own against any interviewer, including Paxman, who is also a clever man.

But, because some people do not like Boris' politics, they try to paint him as a fool, which is a foolish as saying that Albert Einstein was an idiot because of his manic hairstyle.

Some people get where they are through sheer luck, others (such as our ex-Prime Minister) through rather devious means, whilst others, like Boris, through sheer hard work, skill, and determination.

Knock his politics by all means if you don't like them, but the only person you are making to look foolish with your constant barracking, is yourselves.

- Peter Thurgood, London, UK

Johnson has the powers to hold a referendum in the capital but is scared of offending his Tory pals. To Hell with democracy. Why don't Londoners challenge him by demanding he hold a referendum on the EU.

- Michael John Murphy, Brightlingsea

I saw the interview. Boris was just dreadful. Bombastic and barely coherent, he dodged most questions in an embarrassing way. So bad I had to turn it off. And for him to try to shift the attention to his interviewer like this just shows how desperate he is. Awful!

- Robert C, London UK

The opportunity to grill Boris on his shambolic mayoralty was pathetically missed by the BBC.
I am no fan of Boris as Mayor, but I really don't give care about his toff background, as I wouldn't if he'd spent time in a borstal. What matters is what he does as a public servant for London, and Paxman blew it spectacularly- frankly Boris made him look like the idiot, which is some achievement.
Paxman's salary wasn't the point of the interview- but if he's as badly advised and prepared as he was last night, he ain't worth the money.

- Fresh, London

If the Conservatives droped that Weak,cant make a decision,undecided,cant give a straight yes or no answer idiot of a leader they have now,and put down to earth,tell it as it is Boris in his place,why,I might even vote for them.

- Dave, london

What nobody seems to notice is that if you give a politician an easy ride he will answer precisely none of your questions.
The only way to get these smug pariahs to come clean is to get them so annoyed that the mask drops.
As for this constant assertion that the BBC is Labour biased, you people really only hear what you want to hear.

- Barry, Welwyn England

Boris really has become the voice of London. Good on him!"
But in national politics, Boris is seen as the buffoon with a dyed mop. He admits to running red lights and cycling on the pavements of the bapital city for which he is responsible for transport policy. You couldn't make this stuff up

- Keith Price, Luton England

The reason the BBC is Labour biased is that they know their jobs are all at risk under a change of goverment!

- Tojo, Hythe, Kent

Bob London - Paxo's pay is PUBLIC money and all Boris was saying is as such he should reveal it.

James London - How do you know you were shown the WHOLE interview?

- Rob, London

"Of course a lot of these interviewers are paid a lot - its called a free market which the Tories support. "

It not a free market - you are talking absolute rubbish, and that's putting it politely. people have to pay the BBC for the privilege of owning a TV set, on pain of imprisonment. That is not a free market. The BBC are using its monopoly position and the money the govt allow it to extort to close down rival sources of news and media.

The BBC is insulated from the recession unlike free market news outlets.

The BBC has far too much money and influence.

- Trevorsden, Wallingford; UK

Boris really has become the voice of London. Good on him!

- St, London

Boris would be much more acceptable as a leader of the Conservatives rather than the wishy washy Cameron. It is time that Paxman with his fractured vowels & agressive
manner was taken down a peg. The man oozes arrogance from every pore. Good for Boris! The BBC should show the whole interview .

- Mordwinoff, Lisle France

I must admit having listened to both TV and radio over the last few days I have come to the opinion that the BBC support Labour.

At no time during the Labour conference did I hear Ministers being put through the ringer, yet over the last 4 or 5 days all I am hearing is you are too rich to rule, have no understand poor people etc.

If the commentators believe that Labour politicians are poor, then why as a London Black cab driver am I picking up and dropping these people off at places I could only dream about living in.

The BBC are running a political bias that they should be ashamed of

- Steve M, London

It's OK for New Labour and their supporters to slag off certain Conservative ministers for their privileged (mostly inherited wealth) backgrounds but they conveniently forget that it was under New Labour that grossly overpaid footballers and so called celebrities were spawned and sucked up to by Blair and Brown. Their disgusting drink and drug fuelled,sex obsessed behaviour makes Boris and his fellow students (and yes, they were just young students)look positively angelic.I suggest Paxman concentrates on exposing certain duplicitous New Labour ministers who go to great lengths to hide their wealth, privilege and public school education.

- Leonie, Horsham

Unseen clashes? I saw all of those supposedly deleted exchanges broadcast on Newsnight last night. Did you bother to watch the program before writing this story?

- James, London

Of course a lot of these interviewers are paid a lot - its called a free market which the Tories support. Has Boris revealed how much he got paid whilst on HIGNFY, and how much he gets from his writing and appearance fees. If so, he has the moral high ground. If not, he should put up or shut up.

- Bob, London, UK

Well done Boris!!!!!

This rude,arrogant individual at the BBC has a sty on his nose and he thinks this is an achievement.

These chaps at the BBC needs to be seriously reminded who pays their salaries!

- Satish Patel, London. England

Boris is quite right to defend himself against puerile questioning by Paxo. Further, he is right to expect Paxman to come clean over his own BBC salary, especially when he rudely challenges the pay of other public sector employees. At least Boris's salary, unlike Paxo and a string of highly paid BBC employees who have allegedly created PLCs into which their BBC salaries are paid so as to reduce to the bare minimum their income tax liabilities, is open to public scrutiny and subject to the proper income tax rate.
Keep at it Boris..

- Paddy, Croydon Uk

cheap attack by Boris.
on this basis he is only prepared to face tough questions from commercially funded journalists, as their pay would clearly not be questioned.
Paxman is a very capable and talented journalist and writer. The BBC is fortunate to have him, I cannot see how he could function as part of say Murdoch's empire...

- Martin_Clerkenwell, london

Well done Boris.

- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France.

Paxo is worth it, Boris is not. Paxman unfailingly shows up the drivel talked by 90% of politicians, and he is, or ought to be, a national treasure. Have a look at US TV and see how craven their interviwers are by contrast!

Hurrah for interviewers like Paxman, who are, or should be, what the BBC is all about.

- Liz, London,UK

A bit rich the buffppn Boris - a multi-millionaire himself - criticising a TV presenter for earning a million pounds. I trust he later apologised to Jeremy for hir rudeness and spiteful behaviour, and all because he was embarrassed to be taken to task for throwing a brick through his party's window over Europe.

- Keith Price, Luton England

I find it remarkable that my country, NZ, began broadcasting using the BBC as a model but now charges no licence fee to viewers, and does this with a total population of about 4.2 million people. Top BBC salaries, on a scale of 'social usefulness' are a bloated disgrace.

- Kiwi Expat, London, UK

Is there a competition amongst BBC presenters (interviewers!) to see who can be the rudest? Paxman should reveal his salary after all we pay for it.

- Tojo, Hythe, Kent

I cannot help but like Boris.

Arrogance is not just limited to our MPs it seems, the BBC have their heads where the sun does not shine and do not represent the people who finance them also.

Come on Paxman, declare your pay and expenses with out any 'redactions'.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

ALL TOP BBC PRESENTERS AND ADMINISTRATORS SALARIES SHOULD BE CUT BY 50%.EVEN THEN BY ORDINARY STANDARDS THEY WOULD BE OVERPAID. WHY WE MUST ASK DOES IT TAKE TWO TO READ THE NEWS. AFTER ALL FEW PEOPLE BOTHER TO WATCH TV ANY MORE.

- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.

It is also interesting to see how many of these stars structure their pay. All other workers, when working in a similar way, are caught by special Inland Revenue rules. Yet, apparently, under this one rule for us and another for everyone else government, because the luvies support 'the party', they don't get investigated. Gordon is missing out on millions, and he's not been shy to chase everyone else.

- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark

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