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Not Boris

Thursday, 26th July 2007

Oh dear, I think I'll be in a minority of about one when I write this here.

I realise that Boris is the Spectator's candidate for Mayor, and that he's an all round funny fellow and all that. But...

I can't for the life of me see how anyone could consider he'd make a good Mayor. I made a huge mistake last time round in voting for Ken Livingstone on a single issue, the congestion charge. Steve Norris was against, and I was (and remain) hugely in favour. But I stupidly ignored the more rounded picture - that Livingstone is a first class sh*t, and a man who disgraces the city he represents.

And that's my problem with Boris. It has nothing to do with his personal life, which I think is a red herring. It's that I think he is a buffoon. I simply don't buy this idea that beneath the exterior lies a piercingly sharp interior. I just think what you see is what you get - a teriffic writer, a wonderfully comical speaker, and a figure who shouldn't have even the tiniest real influence on anything of importance.

The idea that Boris Johnson might be the man to represent London on the world stage just embarrasses me. And I have seen no evidence - not just little evidence, but no evidence - that he has any worthwhile contribution to make on public policy issues or that he has any kind of vision for London, let alone the ability to implement it.

Talk about an impossible choice:al-Qaradawi's PR man or a buffoon.

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Ian

July 27th, 2007 2:08pm

It's his chance to prove you (and the rest of us who think he might be a buffo0n but hope it's all an act) wrong. He has been known to talk alot of sense and to have a real go at the government. He will just have to stop playing the fool and get down to real politics - and if he can do it in his humorous, but an un-buffonish way, he will wipe the floor with Ken who is, as you say, a triple A sh*t.

dewi

July 29th, 2007 9:15pm

But what's this about the world stage? Has there ever been a London mayor who was visible outside London?

Jeff

July 30th, 2007 2:53pm

Quite. What does it say about the Conservative Party that they would consider putting up this clown? I voted for Steve Norris twice and for David Cameron in the leadership election. I thought he was serious, but this is beyond a joke.