When being interviewed by the BBC last night Stanley Johnson, father of the new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, stated that Boris would certainly be stepping down as Member of Parliament for Henley. This is I think a good thing and the right thing for Boris to do, he would otherwise be opening himself up to the attack of “part time Mayor”. The two questions are however; when will Boris stand down and who will run as Conservative Party Candidate for Henley? Stanley Johnson certainly did not rule himself out and it would be interesting if he was allowed to run as the candidate.
The other question here is the LibDem’s. This lot have a proven record at by-elections and Nick Clegg needs a scalp to claim, in order that his party feels good following Thursdays distinctly mediocre performance. Would Paddick stand as candidate, and if so would a) he have a chance and b) it be seen as a further snub, following Paddick’s comments on the BBC about working with Boris, to the new Mayor?
Paddick wouldn’t have a chance in hell. Having just snubbed the incumbent – the man who thrashed Livingstone out of office (the simple, popular view) and also gained more than 50 per cent of Henley’s votes in 2005 – the good Burghers would hopefully hold him in as much contempt as I currently do.
As the panel of Have I Got News for You noted last night, London just got another bobby on the beat…