In the second result of our February survey of Tory members (first here) 40% of Tory members say that it's too early to say if Boris Johnson has the qualities to be PM. The exact wording was: "Do you see Boris Johnson as a credible candidate to be Prime Minister after he has served as London Mayor?".
Of those who have decided, however, a clear majority are sceptical. Over 70% say no. Most of the polling was carried out before reporting of Boris Johnson's F-word outburst.
Overall, 89% of Tory members are satisfied with the Mayor's performance and just 5% dissatisfied.
For David Cameron 86% are satisfied and 12% dissatisfied.
1. I wonder how many of us considered Broon to be "a credible candidate for PM having 'served' as Chancellor"...
2. It doesn't count as swearing when it's directed at Keith Vaz. I would be suspicious of anyone [on either side of the political spectrum] who claimed that this pompous ******* didn't drive them to expletives...!
Posted by: BorisforPM | February 14, 2009 at 13:05
Pegs and holes. Some of us are brilliant at particular jobs, but the wrong 'shape' for others.
For all his excellent qualities, Boris doesn't seem to be the right type to be a PM — just as I realised I would never be a Portfolio Holder on my council, because I'm just the wrong-shaped 'peg' for that kind of job.
Acceptance of who we were (while not stifling ambition!) shows wisdom.
Posted by: John Ward | February 14, 2009 at 13:11
Boris would not make a good PM today. However I am reluctant to rule him out as a future leader simply because he is so likable. As an example if after 10 years of a DC government, we suffered a landslide defeat at the hands of labour. Boris might well be the right person to take on the leadership of the party. He would also make an excellent war leader, because he can talk to everyone and is well liked even by Labour supporters. Charisma is a really important factor in the makeup of a great leader, and Boris has it in bucket fulls. Of course he needs to mature a little and get control of his tongue, but he is still a relative infant in a career were being older is often an advantage. Certainly not today, but It would be a very rash person who said never. I would certainly vote for Boris.
Posted by: Ross Warren | February 14, 2009 at 13:38
"It doesn't count as swearing when it's directed at Keith Vaz. I would be suspicious of anyone [on either side of the political spectrum] who claimed that this pompous ******* didn't drive them to expletives...!"
I assume when you talk about pompous you referring to vas and not boris
Posted by: Onthejob | February 14, 2009 at 13:57
"Tory members sceptical about Boris' Prime Ministerial prospects"
Your headline would better reflect the poll result if it said:
"PRO BORIS WEBSITE CAN ONLY FIND 17% WHO THINK HE IS A CREDIBLE CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER"
Posted by: Bill Brinsmead | February 14, 2009 at 14:12
That I am, Onthejob. Vaz is just a most oleaginous creature - so conspicuously unsuccessful in everything, and yet so unreasonably full of himself. Awful.
Posted by: BorisforPM | February 14, 2009 at 14:20
Always worth remembering that the 'Tory members' showed astute political acuity by voting for complete comedian Iain Duncan Smith as their leader...
As a collective, their credibility was self-immolated there and then.
Posted by: Patrick Benson | February 14, 2009 at 14:29
Having come across him in Mayor's question time on the Parliament Channel a couple of times he seems not very well informed and routinely evasive.
Posted by: David | February 14, 2009 at 14:39
Not so long ago Tory members may well have said that he wasn't Mayoral material...
Posted by: Nicholas J. Rogers | February 14, 2009 at 14:49
If Boris became PM and there was snow would buses stop throughout the country?
Posted by: Iain Blair | February 14, 2009 at 14:50
Leave Boris alone. You can't blame him for an, apparently, one in a twenty year event. Even TfL forgot to grit the bus depots' access to the roads.
Posted by: Susan | February 14, 2009 at 16:04
And among his only real following: Tory members. We wanted a Mayor and we got a joke.
Posted by: clownster | February 14, 2009 at 16:14
Given you have to be an MP to become Prime Minister, Boris would seem to be out of the running. As others have said, certain people are good for certain roles. Boris may well be a successful Mayor, but as a PM I would be rather worried. Its a whole different level.
Posted by: James Maskell | February 14, 2009 at 16:31
susan@1604;I doubt it was the snow---more the workforce,unions or worse ,kEN'S placemen on TFL striving to undermine Boris.I feel he has done quite well so far.
A more interesting question would be whether David Cameron is a credible candidate to be PM,and Gideon as Chancellor
Posted by: michael mcgough | February 14, 2009 at 16:51
I think Boris is an absolutely incredible politician. He's certainly one of the top Tories in my mind.
My vote was that he would not make a good prime minister. That's not an insult or a slate on Boris in any way. I have nothing but respect for him. But as has been already said, the PM is a very specific job requiring a very specific kind of person and I don't think Boris fits the bill.
But ten years can make a big different to a man. There's no reason to assume I wouldn't find his character entirely suitable in a decades time.
Posted by: Steve Tierney | February 14, 2009 at 16:55
It's absolutely too early to tell. If (when) Mr Cameron becomes Prime Minister in 2010, he is likely to serve 2 full terms, that will be 2020 and who knows what Boris will be doing then. How many politicians have been predicted for top office in "x" number of years when they are not even in Parliament. I can't think of any.
Posted by: Paul | February 14, 2009 at 19:41
I remember years ago that Spitting Image had Kenneth Baker MP represented as a slimy, odious slug creature. Keith Vaz should now replace Ken Baker as the inspiration for this creature.......
Posted by: Yorkshireman, Yorkshire | February 14, 2009 at 19:56
The question in itself is a nonsense. Only a fool would ever want this idiot as Prime Minister.
Posted by: Jack Stone | February 14, 2009 at 20:12
"It's absolutely too early to tell. If (when) Mr Cameron becomes Prime Minister in 2010, he is likely to serve 2 full terms, that will be 2020 and who knows what Boris will be doing then. How many politicians have been predicted for top office in "x" number of years when they are not even in Parliament. I can't think of any."
Paul, you are right here. I would love to see BoJo as Prime Minister but the problem is that he gave up Henley. Any arrangement would be something akin to the grubby Granita deal.
Posted by: Super Blue | February 14, 2009 at 22:09
Dan Hannan will be PM by then so it doesn't really matter.
Posted by: Robert Eve | February 14, 2009 at 22:36
"Dan Hannan will be PM by then so it doesn't really matter.
Posted by: Robert Eve | February 14, 2009 at 22:36"
No. Dan will have been deselected by the Europhile Camerloons and defected to UKIP.
Posted by: Adam Hume | February 14, 2009 at 23:34
Boris has found his niche and has accomplished much in the short time he has been Mayor.
He is not and never will be a possible PM and frankly I do not think he would wish to be.
Posted by: steve foley | February 15, 2009 at 22:26
Are people really serious about The Educated Thug Mayor for London as Prime Minister. You lot appear to have lost your sense of reality. Reason being : people are starting to see through all the Political games. Who said no more Punch and Judy Politic's. This Political War is now being played out before our very eyes and it is dirty. Boris stay in the Bar.
Posted by: Mr Whoopenberger | February 19, 2009 at 09:19
I can think of one MP who the pundits said was destined for high office. That was John Moore, former MP for Croydon Central and a Cabinet Minister.
He was in the event a shooting star and quickly burned out, left Parliament in 1992 with a Peerage but I can't say I have heard anything of him since.
The Roman Catholics have a lovely saying "The cardinal who enters the Conclave already the Pope comes out still as a cardinal". Who would have thought a few years before the event that John Major would have been PM or that a very new MP called Cameron would become Tory Party Leader? Trying to guess the next Party Leader or PM from existing MPs is an amusing parlour game but nothing else.
Posted by: steve foley | February 19, 2009 at 10:07
Steve, I couldn't agree with you more and yes I too remember John Moore. He was a delightful man with whom I used to deal from time to time when I worked in Speakers Department at the old CCO. I remember the media "bigged him up" tremendously - so much so that I fear that may have been the reason he burned out and left the House of Commons.
As for Boris - he is doing a superb job in my opinion as Mayor of London and I think speculation as to his future plans is unhelpful in the extreme.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | February 19, 2009 at 10:33