On Boris and that poll lead
Matthew d'Ancona 1:55pm
Who’s laughing now? Boris has stormed ahead in the polls today, with a 12 point lead over Ken in the Standard’s YouGov survey. With 45 days to go, 49 per cent versus 37 is a strong position – and quite remarkable for a Tory candidate in a city that Livingstone has run (to use his own phrase) as a “personal fiefdom” on and off for more than a quarter century.
The especially good news is that Our Man is ahead on second preference votes, although here the margin is narrower (20 to 17). But the evidence is clear both that Ken’s City Hall scandals and Boris’s star quality are bringing in floating voters: key in a contest where differential turnout has always been a huge problem for the Tories (people bother to vote in Lewisham, but don’t in Kensington).
Having gone head to head with the Mayor on Any Questions recently, I still regard him as a formidable operator, with the same implacable stamina that makes Gordon Brown such a tough opponent. But – today at least – the auguries for a fresh start in London could scarcely be better.
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Ian C
March 17th, 2008 2:56pm Report this commentI repeat a previous comment - the last thing a Tory party rising in the polls towards a possible victory in Autumn 2009/Spring 2010 is Boris making silly waves in London. They need him to deliver Ken a very bloody nose but an outright victory could bite them - if not in the run up to the Genral Election then in mid-term re-elections.
salieri
March 17th, 2008 2:58pm Report this commentWhat's that, mike? Don't go all shy on us...
Fergus Pickering
March 17th, 2008 4:20pm Report this commentWhy suppose Boris can't do the Mayor thing. He was a very good editor of the Spectator, better than anybody I can think of before or since. I know London is bigger and all that, but Boris is no fool. He will be a good mayor. Just wait and see.
Tiberius
March 17th, 2008 4:39pm Report this commentThat is a curious line of argument, Ian C. It would be interesting if you could tell us what sort of silly wave Boris may make.
Max Kaye
March 17th, 2008 4:51pm Report this commentGo Boris!
Pay no attention to your detractors. When you win Remember that viri infelicis procul amici.
salieri
March 17th, 2008 6:28pm Report this commentOr indeed, as Tiberius said (for lovers of the double subjunctive such as mike) oderint dum metuant
THX1138
March 17th, 2008 7:44pm Report this commentWow - The mods are hard to beat when they are batting for one of their own. I wonder if similar comments about Ken might have got through? . I will have another go. Guys be careful what you wish for. This quote from Michael Portillo got it right in the Sunday Times -When I first met Boris Johnson, I marked him down as unserious. He came to interview me as defence secretary and arrived 45 minutes late. Apparently, experienced political journalist that he was, he had thought the ministry was in Victoria Street, not in Whitehall. He had the decency to look flushed and sweaty, but also gave the impression that I should find his shambolic performance endearing. I pretended to do so. I hate to agree with Ian C but in six months with Boris late for yet another meeting, crime is still up and with not a Routemaster in sight the loveable buffoon persona might start to wear a bit thin. The danger for Dave that he is so linked to Boris that if it does all go wrong the country might not let another Bullingdon boy to win the bigger prize. I will probably vote for Boris because I'm sick of Ken & who knows it might just keep Dave out.
Nicholas
March 17th, 2008 9:53pm Report this commentKen needs more than a bloody nose. Press on Boris!
Augustus
March 17th, 2008 10:41pm Report this commentBenedice Johnsonus qui pro maiestate desinatus est.
jeffrey
March 17th, 2008 11:57pm Report this commentBoris the buffoon. I thought David Cameron was serious.
Fergus Pickering
March 18th, 2008 7:40am Report this commentRe Portillo. One has to ask, where is he now and who is really the buffoon?
Ian C
March 18th, 2008 9:52am Report this commentYou read it here first!! Boris does not need electing to serve his purpose.
THX1138
March 18th, 2008 11:19am Report this commentIan C-I bet Central Office are having kittens now they think Boris might win.
Nicholas
March 18th, 2008 12:53pm Report this commentBoris just got a pretty partisan quizzing from Andrew Neil on the Daily Politics who trundled out all the usual Livingstone/Labour anecdotal baggage. His response was good given the circumstances but I thought the programme approach was shameful and reflected no merit on the part of Andrew Neil and the BBC. With eight years of Livingstoniasm in London how anyone can cite Boris' alleged buffoonery as a reason against change is beyond me. And as for those conservatives bleating openly about the potential damage to the Tories election prospects I suggest they get their heads stuck into a book about Ho Chi Minh and read, learn and inwardly digest the cynical Stalinist exploitation of contradictions amongst allies.
Alex, Buenos Aires
March 18th, 2008 7:06pm Report this commentIan C - interesting comment about Boris´s future ´silly waves´ as mayor. Has not the outgoing mayor made numerous ´silly waves´ over the past few years?
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