Boris to stand for London mayor

Last Modified: 16 Jul 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Boris Johnson is standing for London mayor and he is already on the campaign trail.

The Conservative MP for Henley held a photo call at City Hall to promote his nomination, but he was mobbed by the media and escaped on his bike.

He said: "It's a riot," then rode off on his bike.

He added: "I think it is amazing that people do not want to do this job. It is an amazing city.

"I'm thrilled and excited, but we are at a very early stage."

He has resigned as higher education spokesman in Conservative leader David Cameron's front bench team to concentrate on the race for mayor but will remain as a constituency MP.

His announcement, after weeks of agonising, came just hours before the deadline for applications for the Conservative nomination to stand against Labour's Ken Livingstone in next year's election.

More than 40 would-be candidates have submitted their names and a committee will now whittle them down to a short list to go forward to an open primary election, with voting in September.

The party's choice is expected to be unveiled at its annual autumn conference in Blackpool.

Earlier Mr Johnson said: "London is an outstandingly varied and beautiful place and it deserves a proper debate. I want to bring fresh ideas to the capital and offer a new direction for Londoners.

"I believe that the Mayor of London should keep things simple and direct his or her intellectual energy at the core problems that affect people's everyday lives.

"Even the greatest cities have further greatness in them. I will stand for a greater London and for putting the smile back on London's face."

He said he plans to announce detailed proposals later in the summer.

'A city as great as this deserves a great debate and a proper contest for its future.'
Boris Johnson

Mr Cameron had been struggling to find a high-profile candidate to take on Mr Livingstone, having failed to persuade figures including Greg Dyke, Sir John Major and Sir Digby Jones to throw their hats into the ring.

Although he has a reputation for gaffes and a complicated personal life, Mr Johnson is one of the Conservatives' most popular and best-known faces, thanks in part to his appearances on TV shows such as Have I Got News For You.

He told the Standard: "The mystery is not why someone would want to be mayor of London. The mystery is why someone would not want to do the job and to try to make this city greater still.

"A city as great as this deserves a great debate and a proper contest for its future."

A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the party would not be commenting publicly on Mr Johnson's application, as it has not on those of other contenders.

More than 40 people have so far applied to be Tory candidate for mayor, she said.