Chutzpah, pizzazz and style — what Dave can learn from Boris

Wednesday, 9th December 2009

As the most powerful Conservative in Britain, Boris Johnson has plenty to teach his old schoolpal, David Cameron. But, says James Forsyth, the Cameroons are too busy criticising the Mayor’s ‘amateurish’ approach to see what they’re missing

But there has always been a fear — almost a paranoia — that Boris might make a spectacular mistake which would torpedo the Tories’ effort to portray themselves as competent. After Boris plugged Transport for London’s funding gap with a massive increase in bus fares — ergo hitting poor Londoners hardest — aides to the Cameron leadership fretted that ‘he’s making us look bad’. Yet oddly, what has made Boris look bad is the resignation of his various deputies. But this is not entirely his fault. Mr Boles, imposed on Boris by Cameron, must take a considerable part of the blame for failing to vet people properly.

But Boris has a great antidote to accusations of incompetence: charm. He jokes that he has made efficiencies in cutting the number of deputy mayors. He has the ability to laugh off incidents that would finish other politicians. Make no mistake: this is a rare and powerful political skill. Boris has chutzpah and pizzazz; he gives the attractive impression that unlike other politicians he isn’t completely weighed down by self-importance.

Take the question of class. The focus groups that followed Osborne’s ill-advised decision to set foot on Oleg Deripaska’s yacht were extremely harsh about Osborne’s privileged background. Cameron was rattled by the level of resentment they contained. But no one seems to mind Boris being posh, in spite of the fact that he plays up to upper-class stereotypes far more than Cameron and Osborne so carefully play them down. Some argue that this is the key: Boris does not seem remotely embarrassed about his life — he is who he is.

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logdon

December 10th, 2009 6:26pm Report this comment

Honesty, or the appearance of is your answer.

The spin free zone that is Boris is so appealing to voters who've had it up to their necks with the nest of vipers which calls itself Labour.

Another day, another lie is the bleak expectation and boy do those hypocrites never fail to let us down.

It's why Melanie and Rod's comment sections are stuffed with participants.

We can engage. We know it's from the heart. They become part of the fabric of our media intake. And we know there's another story just around the corner which will follow the same mindset.

How refreshing?

And non more refreshing than a dose of Johnson compared with the odious and devious newt fancier who preceeded.

terence patrick hewett

December 10th, 2009 7:55pm Report this comment

Johnson is running rings around his opponents, and they don't even realise it. Not the least when he was attacked because of his Shed. We live in a Shedocracy; Boris understands this deep love of Sheds that the English have, because he understands and loves the English. Bozza reminds me of Lord Palmerston, both in his oratorical delivery and his popularity. Boris is popular because people feel he is on their side against the big battalions. Against those people who "love every country but their own." Or, as Pam neatly put it; against those who propagate the view that "everything that was English was wrong, and everything that was hostile to England was right." The diverse peoples of London know that they are in no danger from libertarian Boris, but The Dark Lord and his Merry Men are right to fear what he represents.

Cuffleyburgers

December 11th, 2009 7:56am Report this comment

The London mayoralty is also an excellent way to float potential tory policies and start to obtain acceptance for eventual roll-out on a national scale.

Looks like a clever tactic to me.

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