This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21836935
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Boris Johnson 'would like to be PM' | Boris Johnson 'would like to be PM' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Boris Johnson has admitted that he would like to be prime minister but insists "it's not going to happen". | Boris Johnson has admitted that he would like to be prime minister but insists "it's not going to happen". |
In a forthcoming BBC 2 documentary, the mayor of London says he thinks the job of PM is "very, very tough". | In a forthcoming BBC 2 documentary, the mayor of London says he thinks the job of PM is "very, very tough". |
But he will say he would like to "have a crack" at it "if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum". | But he will say he would like to "have a crack" at it "if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum". |
The mayor has been talked up as a possible future Conservative leader, but he has always said he would see out his second term as mayor until 2016. | The mayor has been talked up as a possible future Conservative leader, but he has always said he would see out his second term as mayor until 2016. |
Documentary maker Michael Cockerell told the Radio Times that when asked whether he harboured any desires for the top job, Mr Johnson answered: "I think it's a very tough job being prime minister. | Documentary maker Michael Cockerell told the Radio Times that when asked whether he harboured any desires for the top job, Mr Johnson answered: "I think it's a very tough job being prime minister. |
"Obviously, if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum - which it won't - it would be a great, great thing to have a crack at. | "Obviously, if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum - which it won't - it would be a great, great thing to have a crack at. |
"But it's not going to happen." | "But it's not going to happen." |
'World King' | 'World King' |
Mr Johnson's sister Rachel, who also features in the programme, says her brother had high ambitions from a young age. | Mr Johnson's sister Rachel, who also features in the programme, says her brother had high ambitions from a young age. |
"As Boris was growing up whenever anyone asked him what he wanted to be, he would answer: 'World King'," she told the programme. | "As Boris was growing up whenever anyone asked him what he wanted to be, he would answer: 'World King'," she told the programme. |
She also revealed that the mayor, who went to Eton school with David Cameron, still feels a "continuing superiority" over his younger schoolmate. | She also revealed that the mayor, who went to Eton school with David Cameron, still feels a "continuing superiority" over his younger schoolmate. |
"When they're together it's rather sweet, because David Cameron - even though he's taller - looks at Boris as if he's still head boy at Eton," she said. | "When they're together it's rather sweet, because David Cameron - even though he's taller - looks at Boris as if he's still head boy at Eton," she said. |
"Remember, Cameron was two years younger - the young pup." | "Remember, Cameron was two years younger - the young pup." |
'Twittishness' | 'Twittishness' |
In the documentary, Mr Johnson says he feels embarrassed about his past as a member of the notorious Bullingdon Club, a dining group for ex-public schoolboys at Oxford University, whose members also included Mr Cameron. | In the documentary, Mr Johnson says he feels embarrassed about his past as a member of the notorious Bullingdon Club, a dining group for ex-public schoolboys at Oxford University, whose members also included Mr Cameron. |
"This is a truly shameful vignette of almost superhuman undergraduate arrogance, toffishness and twittishness," he said. | "This is a truly shameful vignette of almost superhuman undergraduate arrogance, toffishness and twittishness," he said. |
"But at the time you felt it was wonderful to be going round swanking it up. Or was it? Actually I remember the dinners being incredibly drunken." | "But at the time you felt it was wonderful to be going round swanking it up. Or was it? Actually I remember the dinners being incredibly drunken." |
Asked about the club's reputation for smashing up restaurants, he admitted: "Yes. And the abiding memory is of deep, deep self-loathing." | Asked about the club's reputation for smashing up restaurants, he admitted: "Yes. And the abiding memory is of deep, deep self-loathing." |
Mr Johnson also reveals there is a strategy behind his public persona: "As a general tactic in life, it is often useful to give the slight impression that you are deliberately pretending not to know what's going on - because the reality may be that you don't know what's going on, but people won't be able to tell the difference." | Mr Johnson also reveals there is a strategy behind his public persona: "As a general tactic in life, it is often useful to give the slight impression that you are deliberately pretending not to know what's going on - because the reality may be that you don't know what's going on, but people won't be able to tell the difference." |
It is not the first time Mr Johnson has spoken about his desire to be prime minister. | |
In 2005 - at a time when David Cameron was about to become Conservative leader - Mr Johnson told the BBC that it was important for society, "in an evolutionary sense", that politicians believed they could rise to the top. | |
"I suppose all politicians are like, in the end, crazed wasps in a jam jar, each individually convinced that they are going to make it and get out and survive," he told Desert Island Discs. | |
"The point is that in a Darwinian way the public needs politicians to want to get as far as they can and that's how I would justify it." |