LONDON: London’s charismatic mayor, Boris Johnson, has dropped his strongest hint yet that he is interested in returning to national politics, with comments set to renew speculation over his ambitions to lead the Conservative party.
Johnson, known for his eccentric manner, sharp wit and unruly mop of blond hair, has long been tipped as a potential leader if the current incumbent, Prime Minister David Cameron, were to suffer a party coup or lose the next election in 2015.
Johnson’s popularity soared ahead of Cameron’s with London’s successful hosting of the 2012 Olympics Games. A survey by pollster ComRes in June showed the mayor enjoying a favourability rating of 44 percent compared to 23 percent for the prime minister.
While pledging loyalty to Cameron, Johnson has made no secret of his ambition to succeed him if a vacancy were to arise. And the mayor told the FT (Financial Times) Magazine in an interview to be published today that last month’s dramatic parliamentary debate on Syria had rekindled his desire to return to the front line of national politics.
“During the whole Syria thing, for the first time in years, I wished I was in parliament,” Johnson, 49, told the FT, putting the party leadership on the agenda ahead of the Conservative’s annual party conference starting on Sunday. With his current mayoral term due to run until 2016, he has ruled out standing in the 2015 general election.
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