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It's official: Boris Johnson will run for Mayor again in 2012
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor10 Sep 2010
Boris Johnson wants to be Mayor of London for four more years, he formally announced today.
He said he would be “crazy” not to run for a second term in 2012 and declared that he had more to offer the city.
The Tory added: “With every day that passes, I have come to love and understand the complexities and challenges of the job, and I also see how much more there is to do.
“I will continue to work with every fibre of my being to accomplish the tasks we set ourselves in 2008.”
Later, Mr Johnson defended his decision to delay
announcing his intention to seek re-election.
He said he wanted to end speculation that he was planning to return to Parliament and challenge David Cameron for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
The Mayor said he needed more time to deliver all the projects which were “obsessing” him like the Olympics, transport and tackling youth crime.
Mr Johnson's decision to run in 2012 could result in a re-run of the belligerent 2008 contest against Ken Livingstone, frontrunner for the Labour candidacy. The Standard first revealed Mr Johnson's intention to stand again in June, although it has taken until now for him to publicly confirm his intentions. Operation
“Re-elect Boris” is already under way with fundraising plans and key team members, including Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby, in place.
In a letter to the chairman of the London Conservatives, Mr Johnson said: “I always said that I would think hard about this decision in the autumn of 2010 and I always said that if I felt things were going well and if my team had more to deliver for London, then it would be crazy not to put myself forward for the party to consider.
“Despite all the difficulties we have faced and deep cuts in Whitehall budgets, I believe we have made great progress in all areas.” Mr Johnson made the announcement on Nick Ferrari's LBC radio show.
He said that he had delayed confirming his plans because he wanted to make sure his time at City Hall was “broadly” going well. He was particularly concerned to ensure his bike hire scheme, which has already clocked up half a million journeys, was running smoothly.
Mr Johnson played down the suggestion that he had ambitions to become Prime Minister: “I'm more likely to be decapitated by a Frisbee or locked in a disused fridge.
“We have a very good Prime Minister. My job now is to negotiate with him and with the Chancellor the best possible deal for London.”
The Mayor told the Standard he wanted to “clear the decks” to show the Government that he was serious about fighting for the long-term benefits for London such as Crossrail.
Refusing to disclose what, if anything, he told Mr Cameron, he said the decision to run again had been “not at all difficult”. He added: “I think I have got a very, very good defensible record after the first two years.
“I think there is a time to end the uncertainty and get the message out to my friends and former colleagues in government that at times of very great financial difficulty, when we are negotiating hard, they need to know with absolute clarity I'm here to stay — if I possibly can — that I'm totally committed to London.”
The Mayor said that the two remaining years of his term were insufficient to deliver further cuts in crime and a “world-class bus service”.
Mr Livingstone said: “I welcome Boris Johnson's confirmation that he will run again in 2012 because he now has a record that means he can be held to account. For those who want to express their opposition to the cuts and higher fares, the first opportunity to send a signal that they want something better will be to remove Boris Johnson from office in 2012.”
His record: What the Mayor's done in his first term of office
CRIME
Promised: To take control of policing by chairing the Metropolitan Police Authority; to put more police on the streets and transport networks; to tackle knife and gun crime.
Done: Proved his strength by ousting former commissioner Sir Ian Blair, but relinquished responsibility by giving up the chairmanship of the MPA.
What next: Must clarify if he will keep neighbourhood policing teams; address fears that Tory plans to scrap the MPA will lead to a politicisation of the force.
ENVIRONMENT
Promised: £6 million for open spaces, and to plant 10,000 street trees. Pledged to cut London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent from 1990 levels by 2025; promote schemes paying people to recycle; and retrofit buildings to make them green.
Done: Has planted 5,000 trees, improved parks and set up 2,000 vegetable gardens. The Greater London Authority has retrofitted 42 of its buildings but plans for the rest of the capital are unfunded. Poor record on air quality and congestion.
What next: Boost efforts on cutting carbon emissions. Consider a clean air zone in central London.
TRANSPORT
Promised: To scrap the bendy bus; oppose third runway at Heathrow; make London cycle-friendly; scrap western extension of congestion charge zone; crack down on firms digging up roads; halt proposed Tube ticket office closures.
Done: Banned alcohol on the Tube; brought in cycle hire scheme; Oysterised overland rail; killed off third runway; ended PPP by buying out Tube Lines shareholders. But did U-turn on halting ticket office closures and failed to avoid Tube strikes. Put bus fares up 20 per cent.
What next: Fight to protect London's £39 billion transport settlement from cuts; tackle roadworks; create more cycle lanes.
OLYMPICS AND CULTURE
Promised: To bear down on £9 billion Olympic costs and create a sporting legacy; to scrap festivals unless they can bring in private sponsorship.
Done: Only trimmed Olympic costs. He appointed MP Kate Hoey to boost sports participation but funding has not yet been allocated. Shelved some festivals. Focused cultural strategy on outer boroughs.
What next: Develop the Olympic Park site properly and find legacy tenants.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Promised: To tackle excessive spending; undertake independent review of City Hall finances; guarantee Londoners will pay no more than 38p a week for the Olympics.
Done: Frozen his share of council tax; set budgets to cut GLA spending by up to five per cent; guaranteed 38p Olympics charge. But spent millions on “vanity projects” like the new Routemaster and threw away £55 million scrapping C-charge extension.
What next: Get to grips with massive TfL spending. Limit middle managers.
YOUR SAY ON BORIS
Lydia Oakes, 25
Marketing worker, Putney: “I think Boris is quite good. I like his cycle scheme. He could do better on public transport but I'd vote for Boris.”
Anders Langlands, 29
Film worker, Greenwich: “I don't see much difference. The bikes are good. I prefer Boris, he's more fun.”
Rebecca Enright, 27
PR worker, Sutton: “I don't think Boris has done anything wrong. But he needs to react quicker to things like the strikes.”
Gail Joyce, 31
Marketing manager, Tunbridge Wells:
“For some reason I have an affinity with Boris that I never had with Ken [Livingstone].”
Reader views (42)
Boris has put a smile on the face of London?! Where do these commentators live? Yes, Boris is amusing in a bumbling, toffish sort of way but he doesn't really fight for London and this government will certainly wipe the smiles off faces when it comes to reducing services and ramping up conditions for a little bit of social unrest. Livingstone understood when and where he needed to massage feelings of security for the dear old Londoner. Boris only got in on the back of Brown's unpopularity and that won't happen next time. Livingstone by a mile.
- Vic Norris, Woodford, 16/09/2010 22:12
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Boris Johnson:
Cancelled the LCN+
Stopped funding the police unit specially set up to catch law breaking lorrys (later u-turned on this)
Allowed motorcycles into bus lanes without proper research
Is trying to bring back an open backed bus
Plans to scrap the western extension of the congestion zone (more cars, more pollution)
Cancelled the policy of an extra charge for more polluting vehicles
Scrapped the cross river tram (scrapping an option of reducing car journeys)
Scrapped the East london crossing (scrapping an option to reduce congestion in east London)
Retracted spending on more hybrid and gas powered vehicles
Told everybody that bendy buses killed many cyclists each year (a falsehood which must've discouraged many)
Enforced stereotypes by riding through red lights and on the pavement
Introduced blue cycle lanes so "car drivers can know where cyclists are"
He's no cycling friendly mayor in my book.
- Harry Cole, Bow, 13/09/2010 10:58
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boris running; what a photo shoot that would be. a new slimmer and fitter mayor ready for the tought times ahead.
- james, london.E12, 12/09/2010 20:57
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Will Addison Lee be funding Boris' campaign in return for special favours again?
- Ted, London, 11/09/2010 23:33
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Another 4 years of the Tory buffoon and toff?
No thanks, he represents a privileged class, out of touch with reality, he gives politics a bad name.
Pity the Lib Dems have sold out their principles for power, Labour is in terminal melt-down, and there are no alternative parties worth a dime.
The best Mayor would be a successful outsider, a non-politician, someone who has run a big retailer or multi-national who is in touch with consumers and can deliver results not empty promises and jobs for the boys.
- chrisstevens, london, uk, 11/09/2010 19:21
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Why one earth does London want another Labour Mayor. they are all 'Closet Marxist-Leninists' & Commies. All Labour administration in office.....
"Eventually run out of other peoples' money...!"
So true, history is littered with example if their Fiscal Incontinence mixed with Control-Freakery. So why would another Liarbor Mayor be any different from the Marxist Muppets in the PLP.
An NO I'm Not a Tory Troll. I'm just someone who is fed up to the back teeth with the Political Turpitude of another Liarbor Fellow Traveller in Office.
- Uncle Vanya, Raddled Tax Slave of Old Blighty, Ceasaromagus, East Anglia England UK (Sold off to EUrine Land), 10/09/2010 23:32
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I would like to vote for the abolition of the GLA as it is a colossal waste of money, can you tell me where I can register my vote please?
- Nick, Wembley, 10/09/2010 22:23
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Boris only needs a swing of 3% to Ken/Oona to lose London for the Tories. He had better keep his promise of scrapping the Kengestion Charge in West London, otherwise supporters in Fulham, Battersea will desert.
He would also be well-advised not to call for amesties for illegal immigrants as this is a sore point with many Londoners, and to be honest, makes him look a right twit.
- Jools, London, 10/09/2010 21:45
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Davey_buoy of Chertseys got it about right, is this the best selection you can come up with, assuming that the citizens of London can afford an elected mayor given the additional burdens about to be placed around everyones necks.
Waste of good snap the lot of em.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 10/09/2010 19:21
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The parasite, who calls himself 'ken livingstone' increased council tax each and every year during his tenure.
He hit hard the downtrodden and pensioners to finance his left-wing agenda.
Remember the mayham he caused as leader of the infamous GLC?
Remember his protege Derick Hatton?
LONDONERS YOU VOTE FOR THIS CREEP AT YOUR OWN PERIL!!!
- SatPat, London England, 10/09/2010 17:40
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List Boris's improvements in London then cross off the ones that were started by Ken, you'll be left with nothing.
Overground. Ken.
Bike Hire. Ken.
New Tubes. Ken.
Skyride. Ken.
Cycle Superhighways. Ken.
Blackwall tunnel improvements. Ken.
All Boris has given us is...
An overpriced Routemaster that hasn't appeared.
Cancelled DLR extensions.
Cancelled East London River Crossing.
I'll be voting for a mayor who does something, and gets to work before 11am!
- Kay Burley ate my hamster, Hackney, London, 10/09/2010 17:18
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Where is mickinlondon, he usually givrd hid two-bobs worth for his mate ken.
- terry, london, 10/09/2010 16:47
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I was unsure what to make of Chris Crowdy's arguments, until I considered the careful and erudite use of CAPITAL letters. that convinced me.
With the capslock at their command, Ken & his supporters are a monty for 2012.
- scotty, london, 10/09/2010 16:38
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Come on London ! 20 Million people and these three are all you can come up with !!.
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 10/09/2010 16:13
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Obviously Lord Snooty and co have told Boris he aint coming back to parliament.To all those who vote Boris because he,s "fun".So is my brother,but like Boris he would make a lousy Mayor.
- colin, barking essex, 10/09/2010 16:08
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Takes many years to be a great Mayor, but Boris ain't reached that stage yet, he's got to learn form the best like Willie Brown and ole Rudy Giuliani.
- Harry, San Francisco, 10/09/2010 15:13
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Red Ken again do me a favour, BoJo will win again
- Jim, London, 10/09/2010 15:09
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Pity - he'd have made an interesting Minister of the Crown.
- Steve, London, England, 10/09/2010 15:05
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Bring back Ken, he is the only Mayor that made any real change, Boris just took all the credit for Ken's ideas such as the bike scheme, this was something that Ken got started before Boris had even decided to stand for Mayor. Boris was useless in parliament and is equally as useless as Mayor!!
- Tom, Islington, 10/09/2010 14:48
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All London Mayors since Ken have done us Londoners proud. Is Dick Whittington or his deputy,Cat, available? What about a Mayoress? Come on OOna make my dreams come true........" The newly elected feline mayoress, Cat and her female deputy, OOna King
- Sylvester, Cornhill, London, 10/09/2010 14:02
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Ok. At least pretend to be unbiased:
"Hands on: the Mayor breaks off during a visit to Leicester Square today to hand over a pound to a beggar"
Give me a break...
And why are you asking someone from Tunbridge Wells? I've got a mate in Leeds who pops down every now and then. Can he have his say too?
- Kieran, London, UK, 10/09/2010 14:00
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I don't think Boris has done anything particularly wrong during his stint as Mayor and I will be voting for him again. I can’t understand why people want Ken back again.
- Gareth, London, 10/09/2010 13:59
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Q: Will the Evening Standard be joining his campaign team again? Because this isn't a bad start.
I particularly liked the representative sample of interviewees, which suggests Boris will be getting 100% of the vote. Not bad at all.
Although I'm not sure you asked enough marketing professionals. 75% of the sample is just not good enough in my opinion.
- Kieran, London, UK, 10/09/2010 13:56
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Early Action by MAYOR BORIS:
CANCELLATION (at a loss of the Pre-Planning £19-million already Spent)
Of KEN's EXCELLENT CROSS-RIVER TRAM PROJECT -
Connecting CAMDEN's FIVE MAIN-LINE RAIL TERMINUSES with SOUTH LONDON as far as Peckham;
WEST from WATERLOO to LAMBETH, CLAPHAM & BRIXTON.
IGNORED Dealing with London's GRID-LOCK, by Acting-Negatively towards the Congestion-Zones.
SELF-INDULGENTLY Wasting Millions on BORIS-BUS.
ABANDONING Existing BENDY-BUS FLEETS for COSTLY Replacement by Double-Deckers, each with 50% LESS Passenger-Capacity.
OVER-Concentrating his Energies Directed Mainly to BORIS SELF-PUBLICITY.
BUFFOONERY May Be FUN, BUT POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
from BORIS have been 'Thin-On-The-Ground'.
- CHRISTOPHER CROWDY, Chelsea SW3, 10/09/2010 13:51
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Given that he's just about the only politician in Britain that anyone besides hardcore tribalists actually likes, and that he hasn't been "a disaster for London" as his opponent predicted, I think it's safe to say he'll walk it. Ken is too old and has no new ideas, while Oona King is an unknown quantity.
Ms King's comments in the article are correct though and I think it's time for people in the outer boroughs especially to start questioning just what they've been getting for their money since 2000. It seems to me the money's almost entirely going on central London and that someone who lives and works in Enfield for example is getting less value from the mayor than someone who commutes in to the City from Maidstone.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 10/09/2010 13:45
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Dave, have you thought about discussing this class envy of yours with a professional?
- scotty, london, 10/09/2010 13:26
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The sooner we get Ken back, the better. Boris has flooded the streets of London with ill-mannered cyclists that know nothing about riding safely or using the roads courteously.
- Bob, Enfield, 10/09/2010 13:17
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Love what he's done for cyclists in London
- Dc, London, 10/09/2010 13:03
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ive voted for ken every time and will again.no way will boris scrap extended c charge it brings in 55 million a year.
- c may, bromley, 10/09/2010 12:58
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Normally at this time there are two or three commentson this type of article.It must of cost Boris a fortune to get all his Eton buddies to say how good he is.The only this chubby kid has done as London Mayor is to add a 20% TAX to public transport and spent a fortune of tax payers money on his little jolly trip to the world cup,5 star all the way.
- dave, london, 10/09/2010 12:40
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Not sure about this quote from the editorial of his record: "threw away £55 million scrapping C-charge extension."
excuse me? scrapping on unpopular, undesired, ineffective initiative that formed a central plank of his election campaign is "throwing money away"?
ah no.
I'll be voting for Boris because the slightly simple rantings of Ken's acolytes make me smile, and they'll have less to whinge and sook about if Ken gets back in.
- scotty, london, 10/09/2010 12:14
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It's about time Old Marxist-Leninists like Dear Old Ken, retired gracefully and were put out to grass..!!
Or he could go and do what his old Boss did, that Nice Mr Tony, and go on the 'After Dinner Big Speaks' circuit to deliver his pearls of wisdom. after all, the naive, daft and gullible pay handsomely to listen to Mr Tony bump his gums and warble!!
- Uncle Vanya, Tax Slave & Warrior of Caesromagus, East Anglia England UK (Now Owned By EUSSR Land), 10/09/2010 11:57
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I would rather have Boris than the last Mayor. His policies consisted of raising taxes and throwing more and more of our money at pointless projects with nothing in return. Can't believe people are still stupid enough to still support this Socialist nonsense.
- bob forton, london, 10/09/2010 11:49
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Go for it Boris! Livingstone only won because Stephen Norris was useless and even so Livingstone was loathed!
Boris is popular, a great ambassador for London, he fun and there is no malice behind him!
As for Livingstone he is despised and a failed socialist!
- James from Camden, London, 10/09/2010 11:39
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Welcome news indeed. Now Ken will be back soon and this buffoon can go back to the comedy panel game curcuit. Thanks, Boris.
- Ruth, Hampton., 10/09/2010 11:34
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ST says "Boris has put a smile on the face of London". Couldn't agree more. While Boris seems to govern for all of London, Livingstone only ever looked after only that odd rainbow collection of groups politically acceptable to him. Everyone else is ignored and he has a tendency to smear anyone who disagrees with him.
In short he is (and always has been) a fundamentally unpleasant individual. Boris's margin against him will be increased next time; it's about time his political career was given a decent burial.
- Stevie G, London SW11, 10/09/2010 11:01
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Please no more of Red Ken. Look what happened when he was let loose last time. Like him as a presenter on LBC if only he would stop "knocking Boris" each week.
- amber, mitcham surrey, 10/09/2010 10:33
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Boris has put a smile on the face of London, made it a better place to live...unless something goes badly wrong, I'm pretty sure I'll stick with him.
- ST, London, 10/09/2010 10:24
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I've just been having a laugh at the list of claimed achievements by London Borough on Boris's campaign website - almost exclusively projects that were already in development and had been funded by Ken Livingstone. "I opened...." - big deal, any idiot can cut a ribbon.
- Helen, West London, 10/09/2010 10:14
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At least Boris can ride a bike, i have never seen Ken on one
- Richard, Rayleigh, 10/09/2010 09:59
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Well - at least we'll find out how many really think he's doing a bad job rather than just hearing from those who voted against him in the first place.
- Rogan, Irving, 10/09/2010 09:52
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Boris, why don't you do West London a favour and have a quiet word with Ms Villiers to stop her scrapping the Cranford Agreement (which blocks easterly takeoffs from the northern runway at Heathrow) before she turns Cranford and parts of Hounslow West and Heston into a derelict wasteland making a mockery of Tory environmental policy.
- dougwatt, london EUSSR14, 10/09/2010 09:48
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