Tory Titan

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Boris: 
Tory
Titan  

Next Premier? 
Is Boris Johnson heading for the Tory's top seat?

The other day David Cameron called Boris a 'Tory Titan' and stated that he had no wish to hold back anyone's ambitions.

"David Cameron has described Mayor of London Boris Johnson as a 'titan' of the Conservative Party who has 'a lot more to give the country'."
-- BBC News Politics 10 August 2012

That said, is Boris really a candidate for the Premier-ship? He isn't even an MP at the moment (although, his brother currently is) and he used to be the MP for Hackney prior to being Mayor of London.

He has turned into a very strong candidate in the last few weeks (with all the Olympic hype). And has handled the media with a strength of character that is almost statesman-like. (Almost! Except for the zip wire incident which made him look a complete prat.)


Tory Titan?
But is he a titan?

The Encarta Dictionary (English edition) defines a titan as:
(noun) a powerful person; somebody whose power, achievement, intellect, or physical size is extraordinarily impressive.

.: Boris gets stuck on zip wire carrying two flags 01 Aug 2012 :.

It's hard to view this man on the zip-wire (video above) or the guy on a bicycle seriously. His hair has a mind of its own -and there seems to be a madness to it that's perversely odd. Could you describe 'this' Boris as a 'titan' of anything other than blunders?

However, you can't sign Johnson off so easily. 

"Several Conservative MPs and donors have talked up the possibility of Mr Johnson being a future party leader."
-- BBC News Politics 10 August 2012

That means that they want him to be one. They have designs on him taking the lead chair. It's not unprecedented with the Tories. After Maggie was slung out by her party -knives sticking firmly from her shoulder blades- they elected a grey suit, John Major. He too was a long shot. But the long shot took Maggie's place all the same!


Boris the PM?
How could Johnson do it?

"A recent poll of Conservative activists found that he was the top choice to replace Mr Cameron, despite not being a serving MP and with four more years to run before his term of office as London Mayor comes to an end."
--By Rosa Prince, The Telegraph 10 August 2012

For Boris to become a giant-killer and take the king's crown, he's got a lot of work to do. His term as Mayor needs to come to an end; then he needs a seat to sit in Parliament; and then he has to stand for party leader and win. And all that without putting a single foot out of place.

(The Blunderer of Old London Town must stay out of trouble for more than four years!)

Personally, I can't see it myself. Then again... stranger things have happened!