Part of Boris Johnson's appeal to Conservatives is the breath of his message. He is certainly popular with some of those Daily Telegraph readers flirting with UKIP. There are also plenty of solid Conservative supporters who feel encouraged by his unapologetic views including a willingness quite often to challenge and debunk consensus banalities. There is that sense that Mr Johnson enjoys a good natuured argument rather than wanting to smooth everything over.
On the other hand Mr Johnson also offers a generous spirited, open minded brand of Conservatism which reflect his Notting Hill set background as being one of David Cameron's earliest leadership campaign supporters in 2005.
When it comes to that most Cameroonian of themes the Big Society we can say that as Mayor of London the record of Mr Johnson is impressive.
To take just one recent announcement more than 10,500 extra young Londoners have been able to join uniformed groups like the Girl Guides and Sea Cadets due to his drive to recruit 1,000 new
adult volunteers.
8,000 youngsters were missing out on the opportunity to join uniformed groups due to a lack of adult volunteers. So a volunteering scheme was established run by the Safer London Foundation, working in partnership with eight uniformed groups: Air Cadets; Army Cadets; Boy's Brigade; Community Fire Cadets; Girl's Brigade; Girlguiding; Sea Cadets; St John Ambulance; and Volunteer Police Cadets.
Mr Johnson said:
'I am thrilled by the success of this great scheme. Too often our youngsters are unable to join uniformed groups simply because of a lack of adult volunteers. They offer young people an unbeatable opportunity to develop vital skills, discipline and personal responsibility, vital assets as they become adults and get set for the world of work. The numbers already achieved by YOU Matter and our other Team London schemes shows how willing Londoners are to give up some of their time and help their community.'
It's just an example. The Olympics saw a huge amount of voluunteering. Community gardening is blooming. There are thousands more Special Constables in London.
Is Boris a full blooded traditional Conserrvative or a Cameroonian moderniser? He's both.