Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
Incumbent
Assumed office  4 May 2008
Deputy	Richard Barnes
Preceded by	Ken Livingstone
Shadow Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education
In office 6 December 2005 – 16 July 2007
Leader	David Cameron
Preceded by	David Cameron
Succeeded by	Adam Afriyie
Member of Parliament for Henley
In office 9 June 2001 – 4 June 2008
Preceded by	Michael Heseltine
Succeeded by	To be elected
Majority	12,793 (27. The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Richard Barnes is a politician and a Conservative member of the London Assembly representing the Ealing and Hillingdon constituency and the Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945 is a British Socialist Politician. Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, or the Official Opposition, in the United Kingdom is led by the Leader of the Opposition. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES was a United Kingdom government department between 2001 and 2007 Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's Adam Afriyie (born 4 August 1965 is a British politician and Conservative Member of Parliament for Windsor. Henley is a County constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933 is a Welsh -born British businessman and Conservative The Henley by-election 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June[[ 5%)
Born	19 June 1964 (1964-06-19) (age 43) New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Marina Wheeler
Relations	Stanley Johnson (father) Rachel Johnson (sister)
Children	Four (2 sons, 2 daughters)
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford
Profession	Politician, journalist and historian
Religion	Church of England[1]
Website	www.boris-johnson.com

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and the current Mayor of London; he is also a journalist and author, formerly serving as editor of The Spectator. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Marina Wheeler is a British Barrister, Author and Columnist who is best known for being the wife of Mayor of London, Boris Johnson Stanley Patrick Johnson (born 18 August 1940 in Cornwall) is a British politician and author and a noted expert on environmental and population Rachel Johnson (born 1965 is a English Journalist and Author based in London. Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Balliol College (ˈbeɪlɪəl founded in 1263 is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends An author is defined both as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July He previously served as Member of Parliament for Henley from 2001 to 2008, and also held the post of Shadow Minister for Higher Education until the announcement of his intention to stand in the 2008 London mayoral election. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Henley is a County constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The London mayoral election 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May, 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate He assumed the post of Mayor of London on May 4, 2008. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[2]

Contents 1 Early life 1.1 Journalism and historiography 2 Political career 2.1 Higher education 2.2 Conservative candidate for London Mayor 3 Mayor of London 3.1 Mayoral victory 3.2 Staff appointments 3.3 Alcohol ban 3.4 Forensic Audit Panel 4 Television appearances 4.1 Have I Got News for You 4.2 Top Gear 4.3 The Dream of Rome 5 Persona 6 Controversies 6.1 Stuart Collier 6.2 'Theft' of cigar case 6.3 People of Liverpool 6.4 Papua New Guinea 6.5 Portsmouth 6.6 Allegations of racism 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 Further reading 10 External links

Early life

Johnson is the oldest of the four children of Stanley Johnson, a former Conservative MEP and employee of the European Commission and World Bank, and his first wife, painter Charlotte Johnson Wahl, the daughter of Sir James Fawcett, a prominent barrister^[3] and president of the European Commission of Human Rights. Stanley Patrick Johnson (born 18 August 1940 in Cornwall) is a British politician and author and a noted expert on environmental and population The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A Member of the European Parliament ( English abbreviation MEP) is a member of the European Union 's legislative body the European Parliament. The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e European Commission of Human Rights was a special Tribunal. From 1954 to the entry into force of Protocol 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, individuals ^[4] Stanley Johnson also has two children by his second wife. On his father's side Johnson is great-grandson of Ali Kemal Bey, a liberal Turkish journalist and interior minister in the government of Damat Ferid Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, who was murdered during the Turkish War of Independence. Ali Kemal Bey (1867 - November 6 1922 was a liberal Turkish journalist newspaper editor and poet In The Times of March 9 1909 on speculating that he Damat Ferid Pasha (full name Damat Mehmed Adil Ferid Pasha) was an Ottoman statesman who held the office of Grand vizier during two periods under the Grand Vizier, in Turkish Sadr-ı Azam ( Sadrazam) or Serdar-ı Ekrem (in Ottoman Turkish: صدر اعظم or وزیر اعظم The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish The Turkish War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı May 19, 1919 October 29, 1923) refers to the political and military resistance developed ^[5] During World War I, Boris's grandfather and great aunt were recognised as British subjects and took their grandmother's maiden name of Johnson. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All In reference to his cosmopolitan ancestry, Johnson has described himself as a "one-man melting pot" - with a combination of Muslims, Jews and Christians comprising his great-grandparentage. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth ^[6]

Johnson was born in New York City, New York, USA^[7], but his family returned to England soon afterwards as his mother had yet to take her Oxford finals. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Johnson's sister Rachel was born a year later. Rachel Johnson (born 1965 is a English Journalist and Author based in London. As a child, Boris Johnson suffered from severe deafness and had to undergo several operations to have grommets inserted in his ears, and was reportedly rather quiet as a child. Grommets and eyelets are Metal, Plastic, or Rubber rings that are inserted into a hole made through another material ^[1] He was educated at the European School in Brussels ^[8], Ashdown House and then at Eton College, where he was a King's Scholar. The European Schools are Co-educational public Schools providing nursery, primary and Secondary education. Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is Ashdown House is an all-boarding mixed preparatory school in Forest Row East Sussex. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. He read Classics at Balliol College, Oxford as a Brackenbury scholar, and was elected President of the Oxford Union, at his second attempt. "Classical literature" redirects here For literature in Classical languages outside the Graeco-Roman sphere see Ancient literature. Balliol College (ˈbeɪlɪəl founded in 1263 is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Status and membership The Oxford Union is an Unincorporated association, holding its property in trust in favour of its objectives and members and governed Frank Luntz^[9] and Radek Sikorski^[1] have claimed Johnson touted himself as a supporter of the Social Democratic Party, then a dominant current at the university, as a strategy to win the Union presidency, though Johnson denies he was more than the SDP's preferred candidate. Frank I Luntz (born February 23, 1962) is an American corporate and political consultant and Pollster who has worked most recently with the Radosław Tomasz "Radek" Sikorski (raˈdɔswaf ˈtɔmaʃ (ˈradɛk ɕiˈkɔrskʲi (born 23 February 1963 in Bydgoszcz) is a conservative This is about the UK Social Democratic Party which existed between 1981 and 1988 He was also involved in the British-Arab University Association. Along with David Cameron he was a member of Oxford's Bullingdon Club, a student dining society known for its raucous feasts. David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's The Bullingdon Club is a socially exclusive student Dining club at Oxford University, without any permanent rooms infamous for its members' wealth and destructive ^[10]

In 1987 he married Allegra Mostyn-Owen but the marriage lasted less than a year, finally being dissolved in 1993^[11]. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Later that same year he married Marina Wheeler, a barrister, the daughter of journalist and broadcaster Sir Charles Wheeler and his Sikh Indian wife, Dip Singh. Marina Wheeler is a British Barrister, Author and Columnist who is best known for being the wife of Mayor of London, Boris Johnson Sir Charles Cornelius Wheeler CMG (born Selwyn Charles Cornelius-Wheeler on 15 March 1923 &ndash 4 July 2008 was a British journalist and broadcaster Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[12] The Wheeler and Johnson families have known each other for decades, and Marina Wheeler was at the European School in Brussels at the same time as her future husband. They have two sons (Theodore Apollo and Milo Arthur) and two daughters (Lara Lettice and Cassia Peaches). ^[13]

Journalism and historiography

Upon graduating from Oxford with a 2:1 he lasted a week as a management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting ("Try as I might, I could not look at an overhead projection of a growth profit matrix, and stay conscious"), before becoming a trainee reporter for The Times. The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading scheme for Undergraduate degrees ( Bachelor's degrees and some Master's degrees LEK Consulting is an international strategy Consulting firm, with headquarters in London. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. Within a year he was sacked for falsifying a quotation from his godfather, Colin Lucas, later vice-chancellor of Oxford University. Sir Colin Renshaw Lucas (born 1940 is a historian and university administrator. ^[14] After a short time as a writer for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, he joined The Daily Telegraph in 1987 as leader and feature writer, and from 1989 to 1994 was the paper's European Community correspondent. The Express & Star is an evening Newspaper based in Wolverhampton, England, publishing 11 different editions covering the Black Country For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. The European Community (EC is one of the Three pillars of the European Union (EU created under the Maastricht Treaty (1992 He served as assistant editor from 1994 to 1999. His association with The Spectator began as political columnist from 1994 to 1995. For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July In 1999 he became editor of The Spectator, where he stayed until December 2005 upon being appointed Shadow Minister for Higher Education.

He wrote an autobiographical account of his experience of the 2001 election campaign Friends, Voters, Countrymen: Jottings on the Stump. He is also author of three collections of journalism, Johnson's Column, Lend Me Your Ears and Have I Got Views For You. Have I Got Views For You ( 2006) is a book on Boris Johnson's political and humorous history especially his time on the BBC's Have I His first novel was Seventy-Two Virgins, published in 2004, and his next book will be The New British Revolution, though he has put publication on hold until after the London Mayoral election. ^[15] He was nominated in 2004 for a British Academy Television Award, and has attracted several unofficial fan clubs and sites. The British Academy Television Awards, also known as the BAFTAs &mdash or to differentiate them from the BAFTA Film Awards, the BAFTA Television Awards His official website and blog started in September 2004.

Johnson is a popular historian and his first documentary series, The Dream of Rome, comparing the Roman Empire and the modern-day European Union, was broadcast in 2006. The Dream Of Rome ( 2006) is a book by Boris Johnson MP, in which he discusses how the Roman Empire achieved political and cultural The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Boris currently lives in Highbury, North London.

Political career

In 2001, Johnson was elected MP for Henley-on-Thames, succeeding Michael Heseltine, having previously been defeated in Clwyd South in the 1997 general election. Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933 is a Welsh -born British businessman and Conservative Clwyd South ( De Clwyd in Welsh) is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom ( Westminster Results The election was fought under new boundaries with a net increase of eight seats compared to the 1992 election In 2004 he was appointed to the front bench as Shadow Minister for the Arts in a small reshuffle resulting from the resignation of the Shadow Home Affairs Spokesman, Nick Hawkins. Nicholas John Hawkins, known as Nick Hawkins, (born 27 March 1957) is a senior lawyer and was a Conservative Party politician in the United He was also from November 2003 vice-chairman of the Conservative Party, with an emphasis on campaigning. ^[16]

Johnson was dismissed from these high-profile posts in November 2004 over accusations that he lied to Michael Howard about a four-year extramarital affair with Petronella Wyatt, The Spectator's New York correspondent and former deputy editor. Michael Howard QC (born 7 July 1941 is a British Politician, a Conservative MP since the 1983 General Election for the constituency of The Honorable Petronella Wyatt (born 1969 in London) is a British Journalist and Author. Johnson derided these allegations as "an inverted pyramid of piffle", but Howard sacked Johnson because he believed press reports showed Johnson had lied, rather than for the affair itself. ^[17]

He was appointed Shadow Minister for Higher Education on 9 December 2005 by new Conservative Leader David Cameron, and resigned as editor of The Spectator soon afterwards. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's On 2 April 2006 it was alleged in the News of the World that Johnson had had another extramarital affair, this time with Times Higher Education Supplement journalist Anna Fazackerley. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The News of the World is a British Tabloid Newspaper published every Sunday Times Higher Education ( THE) formerly The Times Higher Education Supplement ( THES) is a magazine based The video^[18] shows him emerging from her flat and waving to her in a taxi. Subsequently, in a speech at the University of Exeter concerning student finance, he allegedly made comical remarks about his gratitude to the audience for not "raising other issues" during the talk, which may have been a reference to the allegations. The University of Exeter (usually abbreviated as Exon for post-nominals) is a University in the South West of A report in The Times^[19] stated that Cameron regarded the possible affair as a private matter, and that Johnson would not lose his job over it.

Higher education

As Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Johnson became responsible for the Conservative's stance on university top-up fees. Top-up fees (not their official name are a new way of charging Tuition to Undergraduate and PGCE Students who study at universities

Johnson stood for the February 2006 election of Rector at the University of Edinburgh, after receiving seven times more nominations than needed to stand. The Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh is elected every three years by the students and staff at the University of Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. ^[20] His presence as candidate caused an unprecedented turn-out and sparked an "Anyone but Boris" campaign. ^[21] Protests included having drinks thrown over him at his first of two visits to the student body. ^[20][22] Johnson eventually polled third of four, with 2,123 votes, behind 3,052 votes for journalist Magnus Linklater and 3,597 for Green Party MSP Mark Ballard. Magnus Linklater (born 21 February 1942 is a Scottish journalist and former newspaper editor Mark Ballard (born June 27, 1971) is Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh and co-convener of the Edinburgh Green Party ^[21] Johnson was quoted as having been pleased to mobilise the student body, but disappointed at the personal campaign against him as an "English top-up fee merchant. "^[21]

In September 2006 his image was used in 'Boris needs you' and 'I Love Boris' material to promote the Conservative Party's image during Freshers Week in universities. Orientation week is the first week of the academic year at a University or other tertiary institution and a variety of events are held to help orient and welcome ^[23]

Conservative candidate for London Mayor

On 16 July 2007, after several days of speculation and media interest, Johnson announced he was a potential Conservative candidate for the London mayoral election in 2008. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The London mayoral election 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May, 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate ^[24] At the same time he resigned as shadow Higher Education spokesman, but remained an MP, and according to The Independent enjoyed the "tacit support" of David Cameron. The Independent is a British compact Newspaper published by Tony O'Reilly 's Independent News & Media. ^[25] George Jones, political editor for The Daily Telegraph reported that the Evening Standard quoted Johnson as saying, "The opportunity is too great and the prize too wonderful to miss. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. The London Evening Standard is an English Tabloid regional local newspaper published and sold in London and surrounding areas of southeast . . the chance to represent London and speak for Londoners. "^[24]

Johnson's candidacy for London Mayor was confirmed by the Conservative Party on 27 September 2007. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[26] His election campaign was launched in Edmonton on 31 March 2008, when David Cameron, introducing Johnson, commented "I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man. Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, United Kingdom with a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's "^[27]

Johnson's outspokenness both as a politician and as a journalist and editor of The Spectator has led to his association with a number of controversies (see below). Some were brief flashes in the pan, while others were seized upon by opponents during his campaign for Mayor of London.

On 1 May 2008 in the Daily Telegraph, the Conservative journalist Simon Heffer found Johnson an unsuitable proposition as Mayor. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. Simon James Heffer (born 18 July 1960) is a British journalist and writer noted for his Right wing political views "Mr Johnson is not a politician. He is an act", Heffer wrote. He criticised Johnson's scattergun attitude to everything he does and "the charm of doing nothing properly". ^[28] Another conservative journalist, Peregrine Worsthorne on The First Post website, was similarly dismissive. Sir Peregrine Gerard Worsthorne (born December 22, 1923) is a British journalist writer and broadcaster The First Post is a daily online News magazine published in the UK and based in London. He also thought Johnson could not be serious about anything and Worsthorne was gloomy about Johnson's potential impact on the Cameron project; "should he actually win, the Tory party could be in serious trouble", because of the implication that a Cameron government might be incompetent too. ^[29]

The British National Party advocated Johnson as their second preferential choice in the Mayoral election in 2008. The British National Party (BNP is a Far-right and whites only political party in the United Kingdom. ^[30] On the BBC's Question Time pre-election live Mayoral election debate between the three leading candidates, when questioned on the BNP's call for support as a second choice vote, Johnson categorically stated he did not want a single vote from any BNP supporter. Question Time is a topical Debate Television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. As it turned out, the number of BNP votes cast in the Mayoral election would not have swung the second preference count to such an extent that Johnson could have lost anyway.

Johnson's candidacy was the subject of international interest. Germany's Der Spiegel and America's National Public Radio reported the race, both quoting Johnson as saying "if you vote for the Conservatives, your wife will get bigger breasts, and your chances of driving a BMW M3 will increase. Der Spiegel (pronounced /deːɐ ˈʃpiːɡəl/ German for "The Mirror" is a German weekly Magazine, published in Hamburg ",^[31][32] without however giving a source for this; the BBC has quoted the same statement by him from his 2004 campaign trail. ^[33]

As a result of his mayoral victory Johnson announced he was stepping down as MP for Henley-on-Thames on the 4 June 2008^[34], which was confirmed with his appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead later that day. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Manor of Northstead was once a collection of fields and farms in the parish of Scalby in the North Riding of Yorkshire. ^[35]

Mayor of London

Mayoral victory

A few minutes before midnight on the evening of 2 May 2008, Boris Johnson was confirmed as having won the London Mayor election, beating the incumbent Ken Livingstone. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945 is a British Socialist Politician. He won on second preference votes, as he did not receive enough first preference votes to win outright; 1,168,738 votes as against Livingstone's 1,028,966. ^[2] Following his victory, he praised Livingstone as a "very considerable public servant" and added that he hoped to "discover a way in which the mayoralty can continue to benefit from your transparent love of London. "^[2] Johnson also announced that, as a result of his victory, he would resign as an MP. Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. ^[36]

Staff appointments

Johnson appointed Richard Barnes as his Deputy Mayor on 6 May 2008, as well as appointing the following to newly devolved offices; Ian Clement as Deputy Mayor for Government Relations, Kit Malthouse as Deputy Mayor for Policing and Ray Lewis as Deputy Mayor for Young People. Richard Barnes is a politician and a Conservative member of the London Assembly representing the Ealing and Hillingdon constituency and the The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. Kit Malthouse (born 1966 is Deputy Mayor of London with responsibility for the Metropolitan Police. Ray Lewis (born 1963 is a Guyana -born Youth worker in the United Kingdom and a former Deputy Mayor of London. ^[37]

The Mayor also appointed Munira Mirza as his cultural adviser and Nick Boles, the founder of Policy Exchange, as Chief of Staff. The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. Hove is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Policy Exchange is a British Think tank based in London. The Daily Telegraph has described it as "the largest but also the most influential think tank on the ^[38] Sir Simon Milton has become Senior Adviser for Planning. Sir Simon Milton, is a British Conservative politician and a senior figure in English local government ^[37]

Alcohol ban

On 7 May 2008, Johnson announced plans to ban the consumption of alcohol on the London transport network, effective from 1 June^[39], a policy described by Jeroen Weimar, Transport for London's director of transport policing and enforcement, as reasonable, saying people should be more considerate on the trains. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Transport for London ( TfL) is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the Transport system in Greater London in England. ^[40]. The ban initially applies on the London Underground, Buses, DLR and Croydon Trams. The London Underground is a Metro system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire The Docklands Light Railway (DLR is a Light rail system serving the redeveloped Docklands area of East London England. The London Overground will be added later in June 2008. London Overground (LO is a Commuter rail service in London UK. Press releases said that the ban would apply to "stations across the capital", but did not specify whether this included National Rail stations - especially those stations not served by the TfL lines on which alcohol is banned. National Rail is a brand name of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC

On the final evening on which alcohol was to be permitted on London transport, thousands of drinkers descended on the Underground system to mark the event. Six London Underground stations were closed as trouble began, and a number of staff and police were assaulted. Police made 17 arrests as several trains were damaged and withdrawn from service^[41]

Forensic Audit Panel

The formation of the Forensic Audit Panel was announced on 8 May 2008, which would monitor and investigate financial management at the London Development Agency and the Greater London Authority. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The London Development Agency ( LDA) is the Regional Development Agency for Greater London, England. The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. ^[42] The Panel would be headed by Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph. Patience Wheatcroft (born 28 September 1951) is a former British Journalist who served as editor of the Sunday Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph is a British Broadsheet newspaper, founded in 1961 Previously the GLA would investigate allegations of financial mismanagement itself.

Johnson's announcement was criticised by Labour for the perceived politicisation of this nominally independent panel, who asked if the appointment of these key Johnson allies to the panel - "to dig dirt on Ken Livingstone" - was "an appropriate use of public funds" ^[43]. Wheatcroft is married to a Tory councilor^[44] and three of the four remaining panel members also have close links to the Conservatives: Stephen Greenhalgh (Conservative Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council), Patrick Frederick (Chairman of Conservative Business Relations for South East England and Southern London) and Edward Lister (Conservative Leader of Wandsworth Council).

Television appearances

Have I Got News for You

Johnson has appeared on the British television programme Have I Got News for You four times as a guest presenter and three times as a panellist. Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event ^[45] The tabloid press, before he became an MP, tagged him as the show's star, even though he had then appeared only twice on a programme that had run for ten years. He has also taken part in the similar Radio 4 programme, The News Quiz. The News Quiz is a topical Comedy Quiz broadcast on British radio BBC Radio 4.

On his first HIGNFY appearance,^[46] in 1998, Ian Hislop chided Johnson over his previous association with fraudster Darius Guppy (see below). Ian David Hislop (born 13 July 1960) is an British Comedian, Scriptwriter and Editor of satirical magazine Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964 is a British Politician and Journalist. Johnson later claimed the show was "fixed", though he retracted the comment when invited back a year later. When asked why he had come back, Johnson replied to the delight of the audience that it was "basically for the money. "

By his third appearance, Johnson had been elected to Parliament. He started by getting his own name "wrong", saying, "my name is Boris Johnson" and then being corrected by the host, Angus Deayton, who proceeded to quote his full birth name, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. Gordon Angus Deayton (born 6 January 1956 is an English Actor, Writer, Musician, Comedian and Television presenter. He was then subjected to a surprise Mastermind parody round on which he was forced to answer questions about his party's leader, Iain Duncan Smith. Mastermind is a British quiz show, well-known for its challenging questions intimidating setting and air of seriousness George Iain Duncan Smith, PC, MP, (born 9 April 1954 is a British politician Despite claiming to be an admirer and supporter of his leader, Johnson proceeded to get no questions correct, whilst constantly questioning the need for such a round. He also admitted during this show he had forgotten the title of his own book as he was writing it.

Johnson later became one of the first guest hosts for the show, his opening remarks being: "When I first appeared on this show I complained that the whole thing was scripted and fully rehearsed. I'd now like to complain in the strongest possible terms, that it isn't. " He initially promised Paul Merton a coconut instead of a point; Johnson then retracted the offer but Merton insisted on a coconut. Paul James Martin (born 9 July 1957) better known by the Stage name Paul Merton, is an English Actor, Wit The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family At the end, a stage hand brought in a bag of them, giving Johnson a chance to say, "Coconuts, from the party that keeps its promises!" Johnson kept a chaotic show, frequently forgetting panellists' names, positions and losing answers, which caused the usually deadpan Merton to often laugh out of pure disbelief. He also opined his becoming leader of the Conservative Party was as likely as his "being locked in a disused fridge". Merton cheerfully told him, "These things do happen. "

In 2004, Johnson was nominated for a BAFTA Television Award in the entertainment category for his performance on the show in 2003. The British Academy Television Awards, also known as the BAFTAs &mdash or to differentiate them from the BAFTA Film Awards, the BAFTA Television Awards ^[47] Johnson returned to front Have I Got News for You in November 2005. He admitted on the show that he once tried to snort cocaine, but sneezed and failed. He also hosted HIGNFY's Christmas special on 15 December 2006, his fourth appearance as host. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Full, unedited versions of the shows can be found on the HIGNFY: Best of the Guest Presenters DVDs, on the "Full Boris" bonus disc, which features the entire uncut studio recordings.

On the DVD commentary of The Very Best of Have I Got News for You, Merton and Hislop affectionately refer to Johnson as Wodehousian, and stated that "every time he's on it gets better". Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE (15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975 (ˈwʊdhaʊs was an English Comic novelist who enjoyed enormous popular success

Top Gear

Johnson has appeared on television motoring show Top Gear as a "star in a reasonably priced car" (one of the show's features). Top Gear is a BAFTA, multi- NTA and International Emmy Award -winning BBC Television series about motor vehicles mainly The Top Gear test track is the test track used by the British automotive television programme Top Gear. He set a time of 1m 56s in the Suzuki Liana, finishing nine places from the bottom before they changed car. The Suzuki Aerio (called the Liana in Europe, South Asia and Australia) was a Compact car built by Suzuki Motor Corporation While nearing the end of his timed lap, he failed to realise that he had accidentally pressed the horn with his arm. After hearing the noise he looked around puzzled and said, "Who hooted at me?" ^[48]

The Dream of Rome

Johnson presented a BBC TV series titled The Dream of Rome, which questioned how ancient Rome managed to unite Europe in a way the modern European Union has failed to. The Dream Of Rome ( 2006) is a book by Boris Johnson MP, in which he discusses how the Roman Empire achieved political and cultural A book published by HarperCollins followed the series. HarperCollins is a Publishing company owned by News Corporation. ^[49]

Persona

Johnson is one of the most recognisable figures in British politics — partly attributable to his trademark unruly hairstyle. John Hemming may refer to John Hemming (explorer John Hemming (politician John Hemming publisher of Shakespeare Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. He is one of few British politicians identifiable by his first name alone. Reportedly, fearing that this familiarity made him more likeable and was helping his chances during the London Mayoral Campaign, Labour MP Tessa Jowell set up a 'swearbox' where any campaign member referring to him as 'Boris' would pay a fine. Tessa Jowell (born 17 September 1947 in London) is a British Politician. ^[50] Jowell herself denied these claims.

Johnson has been a frequent target for satirists. Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human The magazine Private Eye pictured him on the front cover of issues 1120 (26 November 2004) and 1156 (14 April 2006). Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical Magazine, edited by Ian Hislop. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. He has featured regularly in its cartoon strip (currently called Dave Snooty and his Pals) as "Boris the Menace" (cf. Dennis the Menace). Online, the news satire website DeadBrain has published over 25 articles mentioning Johnson,^[51] and the website Backing Boris spearheads a lighthearted campaign to advance his cause. News satire, also called fake news, is a type of Parody presented in a format typical of mainstream Journalism, and called a satire because of its content

He has shown himself to be outspoken on issues which are treated by some as belonging to the realms of political correctness. Political correctness (adjectivally politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to Language, ideas policies or behavior

Johnson made the following comments about Islam in his Spectator column shortly after the July 7 bombings in 2005:

[I]t is time to reassert British values in the face of extremist Islam. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July The 7 July 2005 London bombings (also called the 7/7 bombings) were a series of coordinated bomb blasts that hit London's public transport system during [. . . ]

. . . [I]t will take a huge effort of courage and skill to win round the many thousands of British Muslims who are in a similar state of alienation, and to make them see that their faith must be compatible with British values and with loyalty to Britain. That means disposing of the first taboo, and accepting that the problem is Islam. Islam is the problem.

To any non-Muslim reader of the Koran, Islamophobia — fear of Islam — seems a natural reaction, and, indeed, exactly what that text is intended to provoke. Judged purely on its scripture — to say nothing of what is preached in the mosques — it is the most viciously sectarian of all religions in its heartlessness towards unbelievers. [. . . ]

The trouble with this disgusting arrogance and condescension [of Theo Van Gogh's killer] is that it is widely supported in Koranic texts, and we look in vain for the enlightened Islamic teachers and preachers who will begin the process of reform. What is going on in these mosques and madrasas? When is someone going to get 18th century on Islam’s mediaeval ass?^[52]

In Friends, Voters, Countrymen (2001), Johnson wrote that "if gay marriage was OK - and I was uncertain on the issue - then I saw no reason in principle why a union should not be consecrated between three men, as well as two men, or indeed three men and a dog. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger "Madrasa" and "Medrese" redirect here For the village in Azerbaijan see Mədrəsə. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Friends Voters Countrymen ( 2002) is a book by Boris Johnson about how he won Henley-on-Thames. "^[53]

Johnson is known for his love of cycling and regularly cycles to work. He has been the victim of several bike thefts and has expressed his desire to plant "decoy bicycles throughout Islington and send Navy Seals in through the windows of thieves". ^[54]

Controversies

Stuart Collier

Johnson was criticised in 1995^[55], when a recording of a telephone conversation made in 1990 was made public, in which he is heard agreeing to supply to a former schoolmate, Darius Guppy, the address of the News of the World journalist Stuart Collier. Darius Guppy is a British Expatriate who together with Benedict Marsh, was convicted of Fraud, Theft and The News of the World is a British Tabloid Newspaper published every Sunday Guppy wished to have Collier beaten up for his knowledge of Guppy's failed insurance fraud. ^[56] Collier was not attacked, but Johnson did not alert the police and the incident only became public knowledge when the conversation was summarised in the Daily Mail. ^[57] Johnson retained his job at the Telegraph but was reprimanded by its editor Max Hastings. Sir Max Hastings, FRSL (born December 28, 1945) is a British Journalist, editor, Historian and Author ^[1]

'Theft' of cigar case

Boris Johnson has been investigated by the police for the 'theft', in 2003, of a cigar case belonging to Tariq Aziz, an associate of Saddam Hussein, which Johnson had found in the rubble of Aziz's house in Baghdad. Mikhail Yuhanna (ميخائيل يوحنا Mīḫāʾīl Yūḥannā) later and more popularly known as Tariq Aziz or Tareq Aziz, (طارق عزيز At the time, Johnson wrote an article in the Daily Telegraph, stating he had taken the cigar case and would return it to its owner upon request. ^[58] Despite this admission in 2003, Johnson received no indication from the police that he was being investigated for theft until 2008, leading supporters of Johnson to express suspicion that the investigation coincided with his candidacy for the position of London Mayor. "This is a monumental waste of time," said Johnson. ^[59]

People of Liverpool

On 16 October 2004, The Spectator carried an unsigned editorial^[60] comment criticising a perceived trend to mawkish sentimentality by the public. Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July Using British hostage Kenneth Bigley as an example, the editorial claimed the inhabitants of Bigley's home city of Liverpool were wallowing in a "vicarious victimhood"; that many Liverpudlians had a "deeply unattractive psyche"; and that they refused to accept responsibility for "drunken fans at the back of the crowd who mindlessly tried to fight their way into the ground" during the Hillsborough disaster, a contention at odds with the findings of the Taylor Report. Kenneth John Bigley ( April 22, 1942 - October 7, 2004) Liverpool, England, who was kidnapped in the al-Mansour district Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary The Taylor Report is a document whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in The editorial closed with: "In our maturity as a civilisation, we should accept that we can cut out the cancer of ignorant sentimentality without diminishing, as in this case, our utter disgust at a foul and barbaric act of murder. "

Although Johnson had not written the piece (journalist Simon Heffer later said he "had a hand" in it), he accepted responsibility for its publication. Simon James Heffer (born 18 July 1960) is a British journalist and writer noted for his Right wing political views ^[61] The Conservative leader at the time, Michael Howard (a supporter of Liverpool FC), condemned the editorial, saying "I think what was said in The Spectator was nonsense from beginning to end", and sent Johnson on a tour of contrition to the city. Michael Howard QC (born 7 July 1941 is a British Politician, a Conservative MP since the 1983 General Election for the constituency of Liverpool Football Club are an English professional Association football club based in Liverpool England. ^[62] There, in numerous interviews and public appearances, Johnson defended the editorial's thesis (that the deaths of figures such as Bigley and Diana, Princess of Wales, were over-sentimentalised); but he apologised for the article's wording and for using Liverpool and Bigley's death as examples, saying "I think the article was too trenchantly expressed but we were trying to make a point about sentimentality". Michael Howard resisted calls to dismiss Johnson over the Bigley affair, but dismissed him the next month over the Wyatt revelations.

Papua New Guinea

Johnson's journalism and public speaking is much given to overblown metaphor, and a 2006 column likening Tory leadership disputes to "Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing" was criticised in Papua New Guinea. Cannibalism (from Spanish es ''caníbal'' in connection with cannibalism among the Antillean Caribs, also called anthropophagy (from Greek ἄνθρωπος Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania The nation's High Commissioner invited him to visit the country and see for himself, while remarking that his comments might mean he was refused a visa. ^[63] Johnson suggested he would add Papua New Guinea to his global apology itinerary, and said he was sure the people there "lived lives of blameless bourgeois domesticity like the rest of us". His defence was conclusive: "My remarks were inspired by a Time Life book I have which does indeed show relatively recent photos of Papua New Guinean tribes engaged in warfare, and I'm fairly certain that cannibalism was involved. "

Portsmouth

In April 2007 Johnson was called upon to resign by the MPs for the city of Portsmouth after claiming in a column for GQ that the city was "one of the most depressed towns in Southern England, a place that is arguably too full of drugs, obesity, underachievement and Labour MPs". History See also History of Portsmouth There have been settlements in the area since before Roman times mostly being offshoots of Portchester, which GQ (originally Gentlemen's Quarterly) is a monthly men's Magazine focusing upon Fashion, style and culture for men through articles ^[64]

Allegations of racism

Two days after Boris Johnson's candidacy for Mayor of London took a six point poll lead over Ken Livingstone in a YouGov survey published by the Daily Telegraph^[65], Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, said that he would 'destroy London's unity', adding that 'once people read his views, there is no way he is going to get the support of any people in the black community'. YouGov is an international Internet -based market research firm launched in the UK in May 2000 by Stephan Shakespeare (now Chief Innovation Officer For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. Stephen Lawrence ( 13 September 1974 – 22 April 1993) was a Black British teenager from South-East London who was She was referring especially to the occasion on which Johnson, as a journalist in 1999, accused the Macpherson Inquiry, which reported on police racism following the Lawrence murder, of 'hysteria', adding that the "recommendation that the law might be changed so as to allow prosecution for racist language or behaviour 'other than in a public place'" was akin to "Ceausescu's Romania". Stephen Lawrence ( 13 September 1974 – 22 April 1993) was a Black British teenager from South-East London who was List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that Nicolae Ceauşescu (nikoˈlaje tʃauˈʃesku (January 26 1918 – December 25 1989 was the communist dictator of Romania from 1965 until December 1989 when a revolution ^[66]

The Conservative London Assembly candidate for Bexley and Bromley and former Conservative candidate for mayor of Lewisham, James Cleverly, another black Londoner, rejected Lawrence's criticisms. The London Assembly is an elected body part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power with a two-thirds Bexley and Bromley is a Constituency represented in the London Assembly. Lewisham is a district in south-east London, England and the principal settlement of the London Borough of Lewisham. James Spencer Cleverly (born 4th September 1969 is a member of the Greater London Assembly.

In a piece in the Evening Standard on 6 August 2007, the journalist Andrew Gilligan responded to the allegations saying how 'outrageous – indeed Orwellian – it is to attack a man as a destroyer of racial harmony, one of the most serious charges you can lay, simply on the basis that he refuses to sign up for every dot and comma of a report of which she approves. The London Evening Standard is an English Tabloid regional local newspaper published and sold in London and surrounding areas of southeast Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Andrew Paul Gilligan (born 22 November, 1968, Teddington, London, England) is a journalist best known for his 2003 report about a The adjective Orwellian describes the situation idea or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free-society While condemning the "grotesque failures" in the Lawrence case which "may well have originated in racism," Boris was far from the only person to oppose that particular Macpherson recommendation. Labour MPs opposed it, too. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the So did the Government, clearly, because they didn’t implement it. '

These remarks were followed by criticism from two black Labour London MPs, Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, who criticised a column written by Johnson in 2002, saying he had used "most offensive language of the colonial past", showing "that the Tory party is riddled with racial prejudice". Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953 in Paddington, London, England) is a British Labour Party Member of Parliament Dawn Petula Butler (born 3 November 1969 is a British Labour politician Member of Parliament for Brent South and an Assistant Chief Whip for ^[67] In the article in question, written to satirise the Prime Minister's visit to Congo, ^[68] Johnson mocked "Supertone" (Tony Blair) for his brief visits to world trouble spots, bringing peace to the world while the UK deteriorated; Blair would arrive as "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief", just as "it is said the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies". Pickaninny (also picaninny or piccaninny) is a term &ndash generally considered derogatory &ndash that in English usage refers to black children

Johnson's campaign team rejected suggestions that their candidate might be prejudiced, insisting that he "loathes racism in all its forms". However, journalist Rod Liddle said that Johnson has used the word "piccaninnies" on another occasion to refer to black Africans. ^[69] Greater London analyst and director of the Greater London Group at the London School of Economics, Dr. The London School of Economics and Political Science, more commonly referred to as The London School of Economics or LSE, is a specialist college of the Tony Travers, has written that "There is no way to dress up expressions such as "piccaninnies'" and "watermelon smiles" to take them within a million miles of acceptable. " ^[70]

At an Evening Standard debate on January 21, 2008, Johnson apologised for these remarks, while insisting that they were taken out of context:

I do feel very sad that people have been so offended by these words and I'm sorry that I've caused this offence. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common But if you look at the article as written they really do not bear the construction that you're putting on them. I feel very strongly that this is something which is simply not in my heart. I'm absolutely 100 per cent anti-racist, I despise and loathe racism" ^[71]

References

Bibliography

• Johnson's Column (Continuum International — Academi) ISBN 0-8264-6855-1
• Friends, Voters, Countrymen (HarperCollins, 2001) ISBN 0-00-711913-5
• Lend Me Your Ears (HarperCollins, 2003) ISBN 0-00-717224-9
• Seventy-Two Virgins (HarperCollins, 2004) ISBN 0-00-719590-7
• The Dream of Rome (HarperCollins, 2006) ISBN 0-00-722441-9
• Have I Got Views For You (HarperPerennial, 2006) ISBN 0-00-724220-4
• Life in the Fast Lane: The Johnson Guide to Cars (HarperPerennial, 2007) ISBN 0-00-726020-2
• The British (HarperCollins, 2008) ISBN 0-00-717225-7
• The Perils of the Pushy Parents: A Cautionary Tale (HarperPress 2007) ISBN 0-00-726339-2

Further reading

• Andrew Gimson Boris: The Rise of Boris Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 2006) ISBN 0-7432-7584-5. Friends Voters Countrymen ( 2002) is a book by Boris Johnson about how he won Henley-on-Thames. For the source of the saying "Lend me your ears" see Friends Romans countrymen lend me your ears. Seventy-Two Virgins is the first Novel by Boris Johnson MP. The Dream Of Rome ( 2006) is a book by Boris Johnson MP, in which he discusses how the Roman Empire achieved political and cultural Have I Got Views For You ( 2006) is a book on Boris Johnson's political and humorous history especially his time on the BBC's Have I Andrew Gimson is a British political Journalist and Writer. Gimson writes the parliamentary sketch for The Daily Telegraph Boris The Rise of Boris Johnson ( 2006) is a Biography of Boris Johnson by Andrew Gimson, which discusses why Boris Johnson joined

External links

• Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority - official London government website
• Boris Johnson.com official web site and blog
• CityMayors.com profile
• MayorWatch pages
• Conservative Party — Boris Johnson MP official biography
• BBC News — Boris Johnson profile 10 February 2005
• Open Directory Project — Boris Johnson directory category

Media offices
Preceded by Frank Johnson	Editor of The Spectator 1999–2005	Succeeded by Matthew d'Ancona
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Michael Heseltine	Member of Parliament for Henley 2001–2008	Vacant
Preceded by Peter Mandelson	Steward of the Manor of Northstead 4 June 2008 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Ken Livingstone	Mayor of London 2008–present	Incumbent

Persondata
NAME	Johnson, Boris
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Johnson, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel (Birth)
SHORT DESCRIPTION	British Politician and Mayor of London
DATE OF BIRTH	June 19, 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH	New York City, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Frank Robert Johnson ( January 20 1943 &ndash December 15 2006) was an English journalist For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July Matthew d'Ancona (born 1968 is a British journalist A former deputy editor of The Sunday Telegraph, he was appointed editor of The Spectator The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933 is a Welsh -born British businessman and Conservative A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Henley is a County constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Results |} Total votes cast 26368204 All parties with more than 500 votes shown The Henley by-election 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June[[ Peter Benjamin Mandelson (born 21 October 1953 called "Mandy" by much of the British News media, is a British Labour Politician who is the serving The position of Steward of the Manor of Northstead is a procedural device to allow Members of Parliament to resign from the British House of Commons. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945 is a British Socialist Politician. The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see The London mayoral election 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May, 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

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