Boris Johnson
The View from 22 – Nigel Farage debates future of Ukip, the return of Nadine Dorries, Eurovision and a Boris for Paris
Does David Cameron have a plan for dealing with the EU? In this week’s Spectator magazine, James Forsyth reveals that No.10 has little idea of how they will actually renegotiate… Continue reading
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If Cameron is going to win in 2015, he is going to need a lot of help from Boris
One consequence of the local elections is that no Tory now denies that they need to win over UKIP voters to win the next election. How to do that, though,… Continue reading
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The Tory Tumbrils Begin to Roll for David Cameron
As I type this, pundits in London are stiffening themselves for the tough task of over-interpreting local election results and projecting wildly unrealistic forecasts for the next general election on… Continue reading
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How can the Tories work with trade unions?
In the latest instalment of WWTD? Boris Johnson has called for ‘Thatcherite zeal’ from the government in standing up to militant trade unions. According to the Sun on Sunday, the… Continue reading
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A birthday challenge to the New Statesman
Slight treachery from Boris, who has written a glowing piece on the occasion of the New Statesman’s centenary. While most people will focus on his dissection of the evils of left-wingery… Continue reading
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Boris Johnson vs Pippa Middleton. It’s on
Game on: Boris has accepted Pippa Middleton’s ‘Whiff-Whaff’ challenge. The Mayor of London has declared: ‘I’m game if she is. Happy for Pippa to join me on a visit and… Continue reading
37 Comments Pippa Middleton’s challenge to Boris Johnson
Pippa Middleton writes an Alpine Notebook for the new Spectator, out tomorrow. She has this to say at the end: ‘Back home in London after my Alpine challenges, I can… Continue reading
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Is Boris really ready to lead the Tory party?
Boris needs to pay attention. As James Allen said, ‘Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.’ Given his colourful character, discussion so far about Boris’s leadership potential has… Continue reading
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Poll: Boris could save 50 Tory MPs
YouGov have once again tested how a Boris-led Tory party would compare to a Cameron-led one in the polls. When they last did so in October, they found that Boris… Continue reading
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Who points the finger? Darius Guppy offers a defence of Boris Johnson
Eddie Mair has more front than Harrods. Consider this: a member of the British Media, Mr Mair, berates another former such member, Boris Johnson, for making up quotes! What planet are… Continue reading
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The life and opinions of Boris Johnson
It was inevitable, after the Mair interview and the Cockerell profile, that Boris would dominate the news this morning. Steve Richards and Hugo Rifkind (£) have written about him in… Continue reading
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It’ll take more than Eddie Mair to stop Boris
I’ve just watched the Boris interview with Eddie Mair and I have to say, these dogs won’t hunt. Mair threw three accusations at Johnson and I think all three of… Continue reading
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Eddie Mair to Boris Johnson: “You’re a nasty piece of work aren’t you?”
Boris Johnson makes a tricky interviewee. He’s charming, vague, witty and able to turn the conversation to his advantage with his ornate language and humour. If all else fails, he… Continue reading
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Boris Johnson has gone out on a limb for rough sleepers
Working in the homelessness sector as I do, my first response to Mary Wakefield’s Spectator article on rough sleeping was inevitably defensive. How dare they? Don’t they know we house… Continue reading
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Johnson and Johnson
Steerpike is back in today’s edition of The Spectator. Here is a sneak preview: ‘Stanley Johnson, replete with energy and charming as ever, is touring the country looking for a… Continue reading
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Why The Guardian has got it wrong – on cuts and on Boris.
‘George Osborne is under pressure to tear up his austerity programme after Boris Johnson called on the government to drop its ‘hair-shirt, Stafford Cripps agenda,’ reports the delighted Guardian today. Even… Continue reading
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Pressure on the editors as Labour threatens own Leveson bill
One of the foundations on which David Cameron based his decision to reject statutory underpinning of press regulation was that editors would set up a new system based on Lord… Continue reading
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Arts cuts? What arts cuts?
Luvvies have never really liked Tory governments. Poor Tracey Emin was nearly lynched by the arts crowds when she had the audacity to let David Cameron hang one of her… Continue reading
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I spy spice
Two thousand spice lovers crossed the river last night for the enormous British Curry Awards at Battersea Evolution. Between dousing my tongue with milk to calm the fiery dishes, I… Continue reading
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Boris Johnson rejects In/Out referendum call
As on many issues, Boris Johnson has made great efforts to position himself on the side of the Tory grassroots on key issues where the parliamentary leadership takes a different… Continue reading
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