Britannist

Here are some comments in the media I have made a note of regarding last week's local and London Elections in which Conservative MP Mr. Boris Johnson defeated UKIP-hating europhile Livingstone to become Mayor of London (more than one person suggesting that Labour lost last week's local/London elections rather than the Cameron-Conservatives won them):

Andrew Pierce, Daily Telegraph political editor, said on LBC FM (London independent news radio) at 11.13 pm on 2.5.2008 “I think he (Boris Johnson MP) could make a great Prime Minister – some are saying when David Cameron moves on Boris could Prime Minister. Labour under-rated him. His determination and intellect. London is sick of Livingstone and Brown. I hope that we can get them out of power too.”

Emily Maitland, presenter, speaking on BBC 1 Television local and London election coverage on 2.5.2008 at 0018 hours asked “Isn't the old joke that the only people who fear Boris Johnson more than Labour MPs are Tory MPs? This is the man who was sacked from the Shadow Cabinet.”

Michael Portillo, the former Conservative MP and Defence Minister, said on BBC 1 Television's local/London election programme on 2.5.2008 at 2.33 am “Boris (Johnson) is pretty unreliable. Boris is the converse of the ‘modern’ Conservative Party. He is a throwback to the past and to things they most want to disassociate with. The Tories need to be higher (in the opinion polls and local election vote share) to be confident about winning the next General Election. They are not getting the numbers Labour got in opposition. 44% is not particularly spectacular for an opposition party wanting to win a General Election. To be confident (of winning the next General Election) they (the Cameron-Conservatives) need to be consistently higher.” In response to Mr. Portillo’s comments, Conservative blogger Iain Dale (a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate who was on the same programme) said at 2.44 am “Portillo clearly lives on another planet from the rest of us - if 44% isn't a high enough vote share for the Conservatives to win on, then what is?”

Anonymous posted the following comment to the Iain Dale blog on 3.5.2008 "The Tories did well (in the London Mayoral Election) but I bet the results of the Crewe and Henley By-Elections will bring the Tories crashing back to Earth."

Mike Mendoza, anti-EU presenter, said on Talksport radio at 3.16 am on 3.5.2008 “I don’t think the Tories are resurgent. I don’t think they have more to offer people. People are taxed so much they can’t handle it any more. If Labour get in again I’ll leave the country. I wanted to go the first time they got in.”

Mike Mendoza, anti-EU presenter, said on Talksport radio at 5.14 am on 3.5.2008 regarding the defeats for Labour in the 1.5.2008 local/London elections “It was an anti-Brown, anti-Livingstone, anti-Labour and not a pro-Boris Johnson vote.”

Steve Allen, presenter, said on LBC FM (London independent news radio) at 5.14 am on 6.5.2008 “I think Londoners are ready for a change – Livingstone never apologised and never admitted any mistakes. The Conservatives are in no better position but jumped on Labour’s unpopularity.”