Boris Appoints a Modern Day Hero as Deputy

What fantastic news that Boris Johnson's first senior appointment is to make Ray Lewis a Deputy Mayor with an important role in tackling youth crime. For those who don't know him, Ray runs the East Side Young Leaders Academy, which is a charity specialising in giving young black kids a real education. It relies on more traditional teaching methods and discipline plays a key role. Lewis says every child emerges with at least two A Levels and three quarters go to university. Polly Toynbee will have a seizure when she learns of this appointment as Ray Lewis is living proof that her liberal creed has failed black, inner city youngsters.

Lewis's academy has been financially supported by Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice and is a working example of how voluntary sector organisations can make a real difference to people's lives.

Boris's Dad Confirms Application for Henley

Speaking to Cambridge University Conservatives tonight, Boris Johnson's father Stanley confirmed that he would put his name forward to succeed his son in Henley.

"I'll definitely put my name down. If you've been a Conservative MEP and a Candidate, and you're still alive, you've got to do something."

If it weren't for the fact that Labour has adopted the hereditary principle in Crewe & Nantwich, and been criticised for it, Stanley might have a chance. As it stands, I can't see any advantage to the Conservative Party going for whatever the term for the hereditary principle in reverse is. In fact, does such a word exist?

Boris Snippets

As I continue my sniffle ridden trawl through the Sunday papers I have reached the Sunday Times magazine to find a rather pathetic profile of Boris by someone who rejoices under the name of John-Paul Flintoff. It's less a profile, more of a sorry litany of sub Louis Theroux attempts to interview Boris, all of which end in failure. He cannot understand why Boris's people don't want to give him several hours of Boris's time. Having read the piece, they clearly made the right decision. These profile writers seem to think they should be allowed access to leading politicians as of right.

As an aside, I made my first visit to the Giant Gonad (otherwise known as City Hall) this morning to do a 5 minute piece on the mayoral campaign for the London part of the Politics Show. It was meant to be a discussion with Michael White of the Guardian. Sadly Michael arrived two minutes after the interview had finished so I had the floor to myself! And yes, I know in my state I should never have gone out of the house, but the show must go on! I managed to get through it without coughing once. Anyway, I am feeling better now, having dosed myself up with Nurofen. A nation rejoices...

Ken is Going to Lose And He Knows It

This lunchtime I went to a lunch which Boris Johnson gave for bloggers. He was in fine form and exuded a confidence I hadn't seen before. What really impressed me was his total grip of policy, whether talking privately or answering questions from those present. It's clear to me that Boris now really believes he can win, and most of those present seemed to share that belief. The landscape has changed dramatically since the turn of the year. Livingstone's increasingly shrill and desperate attacks are failing to land a blow and all the polls show things moving in Boris's direction.

One thing Boris said at the lunch made me think. He said that the Mayor's precept is now £311 for a Band D house. He promised to run the Mayoral budget by "good Tory principles". He has already made clear there are lots of efficiency savings to be made. I made a facetious comment about 'sharing the proceeds of growth' but I meant it. The mayoral precept has rise hugely during Livingstone's years in charge and all Londoners have to show for it is a raft of extra quangos and job opportunities for Livingstone's cronies. If there's scope to cut the tax burden for Londoners Boris should seize it with both hands.

I was shown some psephological work this afternoon which shows categorically that Boris is in a really good position to win. I suspect Ken's people have seen something similar, which explains their increasingly desperate tactics. Ken's on his way out, and he knows it.

More reports from the lunch from Tory Radio, Ellee Seymour, Sam Coates