Watch Boris Johnson finally admit his intention to stand for Parliament in 2015
The London Mayor finally admitted he missed the green leather of the Commons
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Your support makes all the difference.Most observers know that Boris Johnson has wanted to return to Westminster for quite some time, with many believing him intent on succeeding David Cameron as the leader of the Conservatives.
Yet still, in fittingly Boris fashion, he fumbled his way through the belated announcement that he was on the lookout for a good, safe seat in next year’s election.
The mayor of London admitted to having “danced around” the subject for a long time now, with the question of his return to Parliament and a possible stint at becoming Prime Minister a favourite question for journalists over the years.
In 2012, when David Letterman asked Johnson whether he had a chance of becoming Prime Minister, he replied: "I've as much chance of being reincarnated as an olive.”
While Johnson still brushed aside any mention from reporters of a usurpation of Cameron’s throne, he thanked the Prime Minister for saying he wanted to see Johnson back in Westminster.
“It’s been pretty clear that I can’t endlessly go on dodging these questions as I’ve tried to do,” Johnson said, before allowing a long pause to illicit laughs from the audience.
“Let me put it this way: I haven’t got any particular seat lined up, but I do think that in all probability, and since you can’t do these things furtively, I might as well be absolutely clear with you that in all probability I will try to find somewhere to stand in 2015.”
Johnson added that it was highly likely he might not even find a constituency to run in, but that if he was successful in this endeavour and was elected to Parliament next year, he would serve out his mandate in London.
Johnson’s current term as London mayor comes to an end in 2016.
Perhaps the greatest moment of Johnson’s announcement was when the BBC cut to his speech live.
Johnson, like a political jack in the box, sprung up from behind the lectern, startling the BBC anchors whilst – as always – causing a few chuckles.
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