Diary: 'I want supreme power': Boris Johnson opens up on ambitions

 

Boris Johnson can get away with things that could finish off a less entertaining politician, as he has shown many times. There is his inconsistency, for instance. If you took some of his public statements at face value, you would assume that to be Mayor of London is the pinnacle of his life's ambition. What else could he have meant when he told The Sun last January: "I really don't see how I can run for Parliament in 2015. Let's kill this. I'm ruling myself out."

But if all he wants is to be an effective Mayor, it would serve his purpose to stay on good terms with a Conservative government rather than attack it, as he did in yesterday's Evening Standard by quoting Winston Churchill – "The government is basically resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift."

This was with particular reference to the future of London's airports, an issue on which Johnson suspects that decision has given way to inter-departmental dither. During his recent visit to New York, he opened up on the same topic to a writer from New York magazine. "We have to have a new airport," he said. "One of the only reasons I want to assume supreme power in England is to make sure that happens." There was a pause, before he added: "For God's sake, don't quote me saying that."

If some other ambitious politicians had let slip that he wanted "supreme power" there would have a career-threatening reaction. But Boris, as they say, is Boris.

 

Miliband (D) misses the target

David Miliband (Ed's brother), talking about the euro crisis on Sky over the weekend, was heard to say: "The German and Greek leaders have looked down the barrels of a double-barrelled gun and they have realised that if the gun goes off, it is going to blow off German feet as well as Greek feet..." Hang on, they are looking down the barrel, and the gun goes off, and they are injured in the feet: do these continentals have eyes in their toes?

 

A bad week to get sick

In case you missed it, it was Food Safety Week last week. This annual event, organised by the Food Standards Agency to "promote the importance of food hygiene", did not pass without a hitch in Sunderland, where up to 50 council staff have gone down with sickness and diarrhoea after an event in the civic centre. The Health Protection Agency is investigating.

 

If in doubt, blame the press

Last week, I mentioned that Sara Cliff, a Tory member of Lincolnshire County Council, had claimed £23,000 in allowances for going to 19 meetings. For the record, she is now an ex-councillor. She had wanted to continue in office, she told the Lincolnshire Echo, but feels she has had to resign because of the "unwarranted hostility of the press".

 

Don't dish it out if you can't take it

It seems to be an agreed social convention these days that members of the public can abuse politicians, but that politicians must not answer back. Theresa Wyatt, who teaches at Angmering School in West Sussex, fired off an angry letter to Tim Loughton, Tory MP for nearby Worthing and a junior education minister, about academy schools. She wrote: "It is too easy for you obviously, as an MP, to lie to everyone in order to get what you want and damn what the people and communities want."

She was not expecting him to reply in kind, but he did, with a brief note saying: "Given such a display of ignorance, arrogance and sheer unadulterated prejudice, thank God you are not teaching children in my constituency."

Ms Wyatt is furious. "I have never known a professional person who holds such a high status to be so openly derogatory and rude. It is unforgivable," she told the Brighton Argus. It is not my appointed role to defend Tory MPs but I have to say, Ms Wyatt, that you started it.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
From the blogs

Review of Glee ‘Sweet Dreams’

The episode begins with Finn (Cory Monteith) at college, partying and accidentally participating in ...

Barking Blondes: When to vaccinate

Dr Ron Schultz, professor and chair of pathological sciences at The University of Wisconsin, joined ...

Doctor Who ‘The Name of the Doctor’ – Series 7, episode 13

What a wonderful way to end this momentous series in the 50th year of Doctor Who. From the start of ...

UKIP Surges to Record High

The UK Independence Party is on 19 per cent, the highest share recorded by any pollster, in a ComRes...

       
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs People

Project Manager NHS

£350 - £500 per day: Progressive Recruitment: Project Manager - Public Sector ...

HR Manager - Chinese Speaking

£30000 - £35000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...

HR Manager Nursery (Part time)

Negotiable: Capita Education Resourcing Permanent Team: HR Manager Independe...

HR Manager

£45000 - £50000 per annum + benefits: Huxley Associates: INTERIM HR MANAGER - ...

Day In a Page

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

The real thing?

Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

Why bitters are back on the bar

A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...