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Boris Johnson's father urges Tory leadership rule change | Boris Johnson's father urges Tory leadership rule change |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Boris Johnson's father has said Conservatives from outside the Commons should be allowed to stand for leadership of the party. | Boris Johnson's father has said Conservatives from outside the Commons should be allowed to stand for leadership of the party. |
Stanley Johnson denied that he was calling for the change at the request of his son, the London mayor and ex-MP who has been tipped as a future leader. | Stanley Johnson denied that he was calling for the change at the request of his son, the London mayor and ex-MP who has been tipped as a future leader. |
He said the move was "hypothetical" since the party would win the 2015 election with David Cameron in charge. | He said the move was "hypothetical" since the party would win the 2015 election with David Cameron in charge. |
But the call nonetheless fuelled speculation about his son's prospects. | But the call nonetheless fuelled speculation about his son's prospects. |
'Have a crack' | 'Have a crack' |
Boris Johnson has said he plans to serve his full term in office as London Mayor, which is due to run out in 2016. | Boris Johnson has said he plans to serve his full term in office as London Mayor, which is due to run out in 2016. |
But there has been speculation that he might seek to return to the Commons to mount a leadership bid. There is no rule against serving both as an MP and as mayor. | But there has been speculation that he might seek to return to the Commons to mount a leadership bid. There is no rule against serving both as an MP and as mayor. |
He once admitted he would like to "have a crack" at being prime minister "'if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum". | He once admitted he would like to "have a crack" at being prime minister "'if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum". |
Mr Johnson Sr, a politician and former EU official, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As you know, the Conservatives firmly expect to win an overall majority at the next election. | |
"We firmly expect the leader to be in place then. It's a question of just getting some appropriate system. | "We firmly expect the leader to be in place then. It's a question of just getting some appropriate system. |
"It doesn't seem to me to be reasonable in this day and age, you know, you have got plenty of candidates out there. Why should the candidates only be Members of Parliament? | "It doesn't seem to me to be reasonable in this day and age, you know, you have got plenty of candidates out there. Why should the candidates only be Members of Parliament? |
"I'm really suggesting that there are other people who have been elected, there have for example been MEPs, you know these are a reasonable bunch of people - men and women. | "I'm really suggesting that there are other people who have been elected, there have for example been MEPs, you know these are a reasonable bunch of people - men and women. |
"All I'm saying is there is a case for looking at the rules. You've got MEPs, you've got councillors, you've got other elected mayors, you've, by the way, got a group of Lords, elected Lords, they have an election. | "All I'm saying is there is a case for looking at the rules. You've got MEPs, you've got councillors, you've got other elected mayors, you've, by the way, got a group of Lords, elected Lords, they have an election. |
"I am saying, surely the moment has come to have another look at the rules?" | "I am saying, surely the moment has come to have another look at the rules?" |
Mr Johnson added: "I'm old enough to remember that Alec Douglas-Home was not a Member of Parliament when he became the leader of the Conservatives." | Mr Johnson added: "I'm old enough to remember that Alec Douglas-Home was not a Member of Parliament when he became the leader of the Conservatives." |