Conservatives announce Boris Johnson for London Mayor

Boris Johnson, the current MP for Henley, has been chosen as the Conservative candidate in next year’s London Mayoral election in a poll of London voters. Ken Livingstone is going for a third consecutive term as Mayor and the Tories need a candidate with a high profile to take on the Labour Party machine in London and Boris Johnson does fit that bill.

He’s a colourful and controversial character who’s a very intelligent and well educated guy but has a kind of nutty professor persona with a shock of unruly white hair. He’s 43, was born in New York and his full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. He’s been an MP for six years and was previously a newspaper and magazine feature writer and editor. He’s been on a lot of tv shows most notably the topicial quiz show Have I Got News For You, either as a guest panellist or later as the presenter.

Labour are trying to portray Johnson as a clown and a buffoon but I think it shows they’re worried about what impact he’ll have up against the personality free zone that is Ken Livingstone. The Mayor will still be the favourite to win, a lot of areas in London will solidly vote Labour no matter who’s standing, but the campaign should be a lot more interesting than usual and I’m sure the media will love it. Below is a clip of some Boris Johnson moments.