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Sunday 7 September 2008

'I'm prejudiced in his favour'

Some advice for Boris from a proud father

Stanley Johnson says that his son is no buffoon, that his ability to make people laugh doesn’t mean he’s a lightweight, and that he should not get bogged down in ‘consultation’

Truth to tell, I have always been totally puzzled by the charge of ‘buffoonery’ that is sometimes laid against Boris. It just doesn’t stack up against a 20-year output of almost constant high quality. I’m sure I’m prejudiced in his favour but even a father can retain a degree of objectivity, particularly when you have as many offspring as I have (six). I suspect I have read most of Boris’s articles over the years as they have appeared in the Telegraph, Spectator or wherever. Yes, they are highly readable. Yes, they are often funny. But that doesn’t make them lightweight. Boris, as often as not, hits the nail on the head. Week after week his column wins the ‘most commented on’ award.

As the Conservative candidate for may­or (assuming he triumphs in the hustings which the bookies seem to believe is a racing certainty), Boris will inspire and amuse in equal measure. When I was fighting Teignbridge in the 2005 election, Boris twice came to Devon to campaign for me. On one occasion we played a charity squash match in Newton Abbott which attracted most of the national press as well as the Newsnight helicopter.

I am not so naive as to believe that it was Johnson père rather than fils who drew the crowds. If the London mayoral election takes place at the same time or shortly before a general election, I suspect that Boris will have an invigorating effect on the Tory candidates. Of course, there will be plenty of panache and brio and maybe the occasional ‘gaffe’, as the press is wont to call them. But I am sure that most

people will recognise the underlying seriousness as well.

Massive though the Boris story may be, here in Pelion they have other things on their mind. They have, for example, been busy putting out the worst forest fires experienced for 30 years. Will Boris succeed in putting out Ken Livingstone’s fire?

Of Boris’s ability to draw a crowd, there can be little doubt. But will he convince as well as entertain? If Boris is the medium, what is the message?

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