In an exclusive statement for ConservativeHome on the mayoral primary process, Nick Boles confirms that he "will be submitting an application before the deadline on 4th August." The statement, by the 2005 PPC for Hove and influential Director of the Policy Exchange think tank, reads like an American politician launching an exploratory bid for a presidential campaign. "By the end of September," he writes, "I will know whether I have the broad base of support that our mayoral candidate will need."
"Lots of people have encouraged me to stand for the nomination as the Conservative Party's candidate for Mayor. People from right across the London party. And people who have never voted Conservative in their lives.
I'm very attracted by the idea of running for Mayor. It would be an opportunity to present a new face of Conservatism to the capital. I Iove London and believe it needs to be led by someone who unifies people and makes things work - neither of which can be said of Mr Livingstone.
So I can confirm that I will be submitting an application before the deadline on 4th August. But, for me, the decision to fill out a form is the least important part of the process.
What matters is what Londoners want from their mayor, and what Conservative supporters in London want from a Tory mayoral candidate. That's why I have spent the last few weeks - and will spend much of August and September - talking to people right across London and asking them what they think, what are the issues they want to see their mayor tackle, and what approach they want him or her to take.
By the end of September, I will know whether I have the broad base of support that our mayoral candidate will need. And, at the point, I will set out my ideas on how to make London work better for all Londoners.
I hope that readers of ConservativeHome will get in touch with me directly to let me know what they think. About London. About Mr Livingstone. And about the idea of me as their mayoral candidate. Good and bad. I want to hear it."
- Email Nick by clicking here.
"Mayoral policy adviser mayble. Mayor or Mayoral candidate. Come off it"
This is a good point. I think we are losing sight of what it takes to win this election. We need someone who can convince people that he or she could be the Mayor, ie actually win the election and actually be able to do the job.
So far, we have no-one. We've got to have someone to show that our party can win again.
Posted by: Matthew Carter | July 31, 2006 at 20:10
This evening's Evening Standard chose an unnecessary title to announce Boles intentions.
Posted by: Chad | July 31, 2006 at 20:17
This is depressing. Are the people who designed this contest, which to date has produced three candidates whom Livingstone would blow away, really in charge of our general election campaign?
Posted by: london tory | July 31, 2006 at 20:19
I think a Conservative candidate has a very good chance of winning - a 5% swing from the 2004 result (in which the Conservative campaign was unspectacular) is surely a serious possibility. Especially if the Tory can attract a few more second-preference from the LibDems.
I think the idea that this necessarily needs a 'big hitter' is wrong. The media will want a proper contest, and will anyway be duty-bound to give the Conservative candidate a proper platform. A pleasant and fair-minded candidate with a strong policy platform and a convincing management style could have a fresh appeal.
What Nick Boles needs to avoid is putting himself forward as a 'New Tory' - why should Londoners care about the inner drama of the Conservative Party? What can he do to make life better for Londoners? How can he convince us he'll be able to deliver? That's all that matters.
Posted by: Stephan Shakespeare | July 31, 2006 at 21:01
I half agree and half disagree with Mr. Shakespeare.
The media will want a proper contest but they won't regard this as one on the basis of the candidates announced so far.
The election is a soap opera to the media so anyone that isn't taken seriously as someone who could beat Livingstone will struggle to get the necessary publicity to even be heard.
Victory with a strong candidate is a serious possibility but with those in so far the media would regard the contest as over before it started. Too many Conservatives by far underestimate this election.
Posted by: london tory | July 31, 2006 at 21:13
We should await the primaries to judge the potential candidates. Treated rightly they will be both great fun for us hack types and a great way to boost our winning candidate.
Posted by: TaxCutter | July 31, 2006 at 22:02
Experience as a local councillor and writing policy papers hardly qualifies as regards campaigning or being the Mayor.
Let's have a candidate with a real chance of winning this one.
Posted by: Justin Peterson | August 01, 2006 at 00:51
We don't have a candidate. Let's campaign to offer a referendum on abolishing the Mayoralty and giving Londoners their money back
There's no way we win if we play by Ken's rules. Its time to think laterally and break free. None of Blair's constitutional reforms are sacrosanct.
Posted by: Opinicus | August 01, 2006 at 12:16
Nick Boles should call up Steve Norris and ask to be his policy advisor. The answer to Ken Livingstone is a serious tough personality who has actually done jobs that have some relation to the Mayor's not someone from a think tank.
Posted by: Jill Richardson | August 01, 2006 at 16:24
Nicholas Boles's credentials could not be better. He has a rare combination of intellect and approachability. Hunting out a c-list celeb candidate smacks of tabloid politics, and will backfire if said celeb can not communicate a passion for making London a better place to live. Nicholas has done the thinking; now is his chance to do the doing.
Posted by: Mark Riley | August 01, 2006 at 17:32
Another nobody who no-one has ever heard of who no-one, including the media, will believe can defeat Livingstone. This is like if, instead of running Mayor Livingstone, the Labour Party offered a primary including
(a) the person who runs IPPR
(b) an obscure Labour Assembly member from Labour's inner city heartland
(c) a failed (3rd) borough mayoral candidate
(d) a councillor from a safe Labour ward in Newham
(e) another councillor from a safe Labour ward in Newham
Against a high-profile, strong Conservative candidate (unlike those we have so far) who would rate Labour's chances in that line up?
Posted by: Barbara Preston | August 01, 2006 at 17:50
Barbara Preston has summed up the situation perfectly.
Imagine if Livingstone were to stand down the Labour contest would begin with Gavron, Len Duvall, Steve Bullock and perhaps Jim Fitzpatrick.
That collection looks laughable, which is how we look this evening.
Since 1971 Livingstone has fought and won 12 elections in London. He has had just one failure, Hampstead in the 1979 GE.
He is beatable, but with a candidate who looks at least his equal. To misquote the late Senator Bentsen "Mr Boles you are not Livingstone"
Posted by: Londoner | August 01, 2006 at 23:49
Nick Boles is no Steve Norris.
Posted by: Brendan Hart | August 02, 2006 at 15:27
What none of the pro-Nick Boles people on this discussion care to mention is that for all the talk and the hype, Nick lost Hove, when to win it, all he needed to do was keep the same vote as the mediocre campaign at the previously election got. He worked hard, looked good and sounded different to old tories, but it didnt work. People didnt buy the spin.
Ultimately you have to judge wannabe politicians on their record and Nick just wasn't any good.
Posted by: Adam | August 14, 2006 at 02:10