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David Cameron: I want Boris 'on my team' in 2015 | David Cameron: I want Boris 'on my team' in 2015 |
(about 7 hours later) | |
David Cameron has said he wants Boris Johnson back in Parliament by 2015, comparing him to a "great striker you want on the pitch". | David Cameron has said he wants Boris Johnson back in Parliament by 2015, comparing him to a "great striker you want on the pitch". |
Speculation about the Mayor of London's leadership ambitions continues, with many Tories urging him to stand as an MP in the general election or before. | Speculation about the Mayor of London's leadership ambitions continues, with many Tories urging him to stand as an MP in the general election or before. |
The prime minister told The Sun that he wanted Mr Johnson "on his team". | The prime minister told The Sun that he wanted Mr Johnson "on his team". |
A spokesman said Mr Johnson had a "huge job" to do in London but would "do all he could" to ensure a Tory victory. | A spokesman said Mr Johnson had a "huge job" to do in London but would "do all he could" to ensure a Tory victory. |
Mr Johnson is seen by many Conservatives as a future party leader although - under current rules - he would not be able to stand in any future contest if he was outside Parliament. | Mr Johnson is seen by many Conservatives as a future party leader although - under current rules - he would not be able to stand in any future contest if he was outside Parliament. |
'Not ignoble' | 'Not ignoble' |
For some while, senior Tories have been privately urging him to stand for Parliament in the 2015 election or even before, in the event of a by-election, to help push for a majority Conservative victory. | For some while, senior Tories have been privately urging him to stand for Parliament in the 2015 election or even before, in the event of a by-election, to help push for a majority Conservative victory. |
This has been interpreted as a desire to tie Mr Johnson's fortunes to those of the party, in the event of the Tories either winning or losing the next election. | This has been interpreted as a desire to tie Mr Johnson's fortunes to those of the party, in the event of the Tories either winning or losing the next election. |
Interviewed by actor James Corden in the Sun - who is "guest editing" the newspaper for Sport Relief - the prime minister was asked whether Mr Johnson should stand in 2015. | Interviewed by actor James Corden in the Sun - who is "guest editing" the newspaper for Sport Relief - the prime minister was asked whether Mr Johnson should stand in 2015. |
He replied: "That is what I think he should do. I want him to get back in Parliament. I think he's great. It's a bit like football - if you have got a great striker you want him on the pitch." | He replied: "That is what I think he should do. I want him to get back in Parliament. I think he's great. It's a bit like football - if you have got a great striker you want him on the pitch." |
"It's up to him. He can complete as mayor, or he can stay on as mayor and come back to the House. I want him on the team." | "It's up to him. He can complete as mayor, or he can stay on as mayor and come back to the House. I want him on the team." |
Mr Johnson has batted away questions about his ambitions to become PM, although he told a BBC documentary last year "if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum", he would love to have a "crack at it". | Mr Johnson has batted away questions about his ambitions to become PM, although he told a BBC documentary last year "if the ball came loose from the back of a scrum", he would love to have a "crack at it". |
Asked about this, Mr Cameron said it was "not ignoble" for Mr Johnson to want his job. | Asked about this, Mr Cameron said it was "not ignoble" for Mr Johnson to want his job. |
"It wouldn't be a great job to have if people didn't want it." | "It wouldn't be a great job to have if people didn't want it." |
'Soap opera' | |
In response, a spokesman for Mr Johnson said he was determined to prevent Labour from winning the next election, describing the prospect as a "an utter disaster" for this country. | In response, a spokesman for Mr Johnson said he was determined to prevent Labour from winning the next election, describing the prospect as a "an utter disaster" for this country. |
"Between now and May next year only two things matter to me - delivering for London and returning David Cameron to Number 10 as prime minister of a majority conservative government. | "Between now and May next year only two things matter to me - delivering for London and returning David Cameron to Number 10 as prime minister of a majority conservative government. |
"I've got a huge job to do in London but I'll be doing all I can to make that happen." | "I've got a huge job to do in London but I'll be doing all I can to make that happen." |
Depute Prime Minister Nick Clegg - who has traded verbal blows with Mr Johnson in the past - said it was "very difficult to follow this Conservative Party soap opera". | |
He added: "All I'm going to do is carry on concentrating on completing the economic recovery but completing it as fairly as possible, that's my priority." | |
Tory grandee and former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said he thought Mr Johnson should see the job of Mayor through to 2016 as he had promised voters. | |
"I think he'll be able to give David Cameron all the support he can he needs in the general election campaign as Mayor of London," he added. | |
There is nothing to stop Mr Johnson serving out his term as Mayor, which ends in May 2016, while also being an MP. | There is nothing to stop Mr Johnson serving out his term as Mayor, which ends in May 2016, while also being an MP. |
His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, combined both roles for a year. | His predecessor, Ken Livingstone, combined both roles for a year. |
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