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Godfather text throws horse’s head into Boris and Cameron relationship
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor20 Oct 2009
As a proud Classicist, Boris Johnson normally looks to ancient Rome for his Italian references.
But when he received a threatening text message from David Cameron's inner circle, the Mayor of London was confronted with a quote that owed more to the Godfather than Cicero.
After rocking the boat at the Tory conference over the party's Europe policy, Mr Johnson was sent a classic Mafia-style warning: "La vendetta è un piatto che va mangiato freddo."
The text, received in the early hours on his mobile phone from a key aide of the Tory leader, translates as: "Revenge is a dish best eaten cold."
The ominous message summed up the irritation felt by some around Mr Cameron after the Mayor disrupted the party gathering in Manchester two weeks ago by demanding a British referendum on an EU treaty even if it had been ratified by other states.
His remarks briefly reopened the party's rows over EU and threatened to derail the Tory leader's hopes of a smooth conference.
At the time, all sides insisted publicly that Mr Johnson, who wowed the conference with a barnstorming speech, still had good relations with Mr Cameron. Rumours of an abusive text surfaced during the conference although the sender's identity was a mystery. "Given the hour it was sent, it was decided it could be safely ignored," a friend of Mr Johnson said.
But today Nick Boles, one of Mr Cameron's key aides drafting the party's implementation plan for Government, confessed to sending the message.
"Boris and I are old friends," he said. "Boris is not the only one who can express himself in ornate language. I would also point out that I began this particular message by saying that I was one of his biggest fans."
He added: "I know Boris will be disappointed but you wouldn't believe how hard it is to get hold of a horse's head these days."
Mr Boles was Mr Johnson's interim chief of staff soon after he won the mayoralty last year. However, some around the Mayor have hinted that Mr Boles was responsible for some of the more chaotic events of the early handover period, including a failure to check on ousted deputy mayor Ray Lewis.
Mr Boles said that Mr Cameron, shadow chancellor George Osborne, and Andy Coulson, the director of communications, did not know about the late-night text.
The mayor's spokesman said the message had not come from anyone in Mr Cameron's office. A senior Tory source said: "This was definitely Nick freelancing. David knew nothing about it."
Mr Boles, a director of the implementation team, is an influential figure in "Team Cameron".
Ominously for Mr Johnson, it is claimed that Mr Boles may, for example, have a say in whether the Conservatives commit funds to the Crossrail project. Mr Johnson has failed to win an cast-iron pledge from Mr Cameron or Mr Osborne that the key transport project will be protected from spending cuts.
Mr Boles, Tory candidate for Grantham, campaigned to be selected as the party's mayoral candidate before pulling out on health grounds.
Frustration with Mr Johnson among Cameron aides is likely to boil over again if he makes a further intervention on Europe. With Czech President Vaclav Klaus the last remaining obstacle to ratification, and indicating he is about to give up his opposition, Mr Cameron is facing one of the biggest decisions of his career - and won't want any more noises off from the Mayor. In English, Italian or Latin.
Reader views (13)
Really, could this bunch of tory tools be any more ridiculous - a bunch of private school over paid bunch of no-marks with no realistic view of the world - I suppose this passes for humour between the elite - I am delighted to be working class!!!
- Tracy, London, 20/10/2009 18:13
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Cameron knows better than to take on Boris. If Boris were leader of the Tory party, their lead would be unassailable and probably record-breaking.
He breaks down class barriers in his appeal, whereas there are many anti-Labour voters who cannot bear to think of voting for rich kids Cameron and Osborne. Boris might have gone to Eton but he was a scholar not a rich kid. And Cameron et al are rumoured to want to bring in that other thick, silver spooner, Kirsty Allsop, who professes to know the housing market, but poohed-poohed the whole idea of a collapse in prices.
- David Short, Tunis, Tunisia, 20/10/2009 15:23
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He sleeps with the cycle clips !
- James, City of London, 20/10/2009 15:01
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The bulk of EU mandarins are as well suited for
flying as for thinking.
Where does this leave us? Most people want a referendum. If the Treaty is ratified before the next election, how do you have a referendum on a completed process. The only option is Opt Outs. They must be sought, fought for and won.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 20/10/2009 14:51
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The current fudge can't last forever. Dave will have to decide whether he's happy to be 95% ruled by Europe or whether he might actually like to be a real Prime Minister.
- Jools, London
He's pretty much decided, whether Eurosceptics like it or not. And I'm all for it! 
It will get the blasted issue off the agenda finally - talk about a yawn.
Conservatives will find the EU is a lot more centre-right than it used to be anyway, and in tune with a lot of Tory principles, be this good or bad. People who normally don't bother to vote in European elections may want to think again - the make-up of the European Parliament is going to matter more and more.
- David, N10, 20/10/2009 14:32
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The other two parties are waiting for the owl of the remove,to make a really big gaffe to sink the Tory Party for good and he wont let hem down.His act is well polished.
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 20/10/2009 13:31
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Bozza for PM. Cameron is too wet to send an email of that kind. This toady little Boles chap looks he shouldn't be in power. Send him packing to the fantasy land of cinema and let the grown ups get on with running the country.
- Peace Maker, Battersea, 20/10/2009 13:16
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Hopefully the Lisbon treaty will be signed off asap and that we wont have the hassel of endlessly discussing wheather or not there will be a need for a referendum.
With China and India as major power brokers its is essiential that Europe speaks with one voice and that decisions are ratified by a majority. The days of the British empire have long gone and we need to get used to the idea that!
- Sam, London,UK, 20/10/2009 13:00
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Ha ha, great to see the Conservative top brass still have a sense of humour amongst each other.
I am very excited about the prospect of an enlightened Government which has people willing to question each other rather than be herded like the Labour cabinet under the control Little Bo Mandelson.
- St, London, 20/10/2009 12:39
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Boris is in tune with the country and Dave knows it. He won't bewaking up with a horse's head in his bed.
The current fudge can't last forever. Dave will have to decide whether he's happy to be 95% ruled by Europe or whether he might actually like to be a real Prime Minister.
- Jools, London, 20/10/2009 12:36
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The Godfather! More like Doctor Who when the Master said words to the effect "Revenge is best served hot!".
If they think they associate with the Godfather then it proves the Tories are just a bunch of chiselling crooks!!
- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex, 20/10/2009 11:43
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Too bad that Boris rocked David's plan to try to put the issue of the U.K. becoming an E.U. province out of people's minds during the Tory conference. Inconvenient that the public should be aroused on such a terribly minor issue as the system of government formed by the E.U. Constitution (aka Lisbon Treaty). Many of us still value the U.K. as a country, i.e. a self-governing territory. Already 70%+ of all new laws covering the British people are originating on the continent -- laws that are just rubber-stamped and put on HMSO paper at Westminster to make them appear homegrown. If the E.U. Constitution is fully ratified, very few new laws will be originated by the provincial government at Westminster -- almost all will be coming from the central government in Brussels. Good for you, Boris, to not assist with the political cover-up on this!
- Phil Jones, London UK, 20/10/2009 10:32
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Why, given that Boles was in charge during the chaotic transfer of power in London last year (which resulted in him and his Policy Exchange drones being roundly outmaneouvred and defeated by the Tory borough boys in the Battle for Johnson's Ear), is he thought of as a safe pair of hands for the transfer of power in Westminster next year?
- Tom, London, UK, 20/10/2009 09:50
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