So London has a new major, the first conservative mayor in 30 years, Boris Johnson or BoJo as some have called him, stormed to a stunning victory late Friday evening and released weeks of pent up ebullience and repressed one liners. From a gaffe prone, affable character to a disciplined formidable opponent, there will be endless analyses on how and why he stormed to victory but ultimately he had a manifesto that appealed, a naturally open style that belied a 'beast of a man', a shrewd campaign overseen by world class political strategist, australian Lyndon Crosby, two female pr's who kept him out of mischief (henceforth known as the Trinny and Susannah of political pr), a first class kitchen cabinet that included conservative party members, communications specialists and his own wife ("behind every great man....")
The press are going to love this new era; photo opportunities and soundbites galore from an extremely colourful character with an instantly recognisable haircut. However, let's not get things mixed up. With a track record that includes Eton and Balliol, Oxford, a spell as a national journalist before becoming editor of the Spectator, Boris is no buffoon and this job is for a city that includes a renowned international financial centre, many multinational head offices and home to the next summer olympics. Capital cities are renowned for their need of a stong character, New York had Ed Koch and Guiliani, Paris had Chirac and now Delannoe. London is no different. A city likes this needs someone larger than life to run it. They might just have got that with Boris.
