Not long after taking office as London Mayor, Boris Johnson discovered that his predecessor (perhaps not that surprisingly) had never installed a portrait of the Queen at City Hall.
ConservativeHome is therefore delighted to reveal that this shameful omission is finally to be put right next Monday, which is the eve of Her Majesty's 83rd birthday.
Boris himself will be unveiling the portrait and we will be sure to post a photograph of the occasion on the site.
Jonathan Isaby
I am not at all surprised that Livingstone never had a portrait of Her Majesty at City Hall and am delighted that Boris is rectifying the situation!
Bravo Boris!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | April 17, 2009 at 16:05
Excellent. God save the Queen!
Posted by: James Burdett | April 17, 2009 at 16:09
Excellent... can we now hang livingstone for treason to stop him appearing on the news making snide comments about anything Boris does/doesn't do?
Posted by: Norm Brainer | April 17, 2009 at 16:17
Fabulous, and quite right too.
Posted by: Nigel Fletcher | April 17, 2009 at 16:19
Just out of interest, will there be a picture of Charles hung up if he ever inherits the throne?
Posted by: AJJM | April 17, 2009 at 16:20
Well done Boris.
The Queen is simply superb. I hope all (but most especially Conservative controlled) local authorities will be ensuring they fly the Union Flag on the 21st for Her Majesty and the Cross of St George on the 23rd for England.
Posted by: Concanvasser | April 17, 2009 at 16:22
"Just out of interest, will there be a picture of Charles hung up if he ever inherits the throne?"
Probably, he would be the King after all.
Posted by: RichardJ | April 17, 2009 at 16:22
Arise Sir Boris?
Posted by: UKIP Campaigner | April 17, 2009 at 16:34
And just the ticket for St. George this coming week. How's about a public holiday like in NZ, AUS and CAN? We could call it:
Queen's Real Not Official Birthday, Shakespeare's Birthday, St. George's Day, Day. Can Boris knock up a 42 gun salute and, in support of Norm Brainer, he could have Ken put in a cage and hung off a turret at City Hall? Ideally starkers, covered in Lucozade and in the flight path of Her Majesty's Royal Wasp Squadron.
Posted by: Englandism.co.uk | April 17, 2009 at 16:35
"he could have Ken put in a cage and hung off a turret at City Hall? Ideally starkers, covered in Lucozade and in the flight path of Her Majesty's Royal Wasp Squadron."
LOL!!! Englandism you are really on excellent form this afternoon.
Posted by: Sally Roberts | April 17, 2009 at 16:46
I hope those who are calling for public spending cuts elsewhere on the blog at the moment would feel that this is a waste of the taxpayers money they are so keen to defend?
Posted by: Comstock | April 17, 2009 at 17:02
"I hope those who are calling for public spending cuts elsewhere on the blog at the moment would feel that this is a waste of the taxpayers money they are so keen to defend?"
How much is this likely to cost?
Posted by: RichardJ | April 17, 2009 at 17:08
COMMENT OVERWRITTEN
Posted by: ACT | April 17, 2009 at 17:15
Steady on, Comstock. This is but one print of Her Majesty. Gordon Darling-Brown has just printed billions of the b#ggers.
Posted by: Englandism.co.uk | April 17, 2009 at 17:16
Doubtless King Newt hung plenty of pictures of Hugo Chavez, and every other despot and radical cleric whose hates Britain or Freedom or Democracry.
Posted by: Geordie-Tory | April 17, 2009 at 17:20
FFS leave Charles alone he is who he is but he has still gone through Sandhurst e.g. and so has his sons and he has done more for this country than most people. I am sick and tired of Charles bashing, he has made some mistakes but he is a better Briton than most.
Posted by: 13th spitfire | April 17, 2009 at 17:30
How nice to read a good news item.
I continue to admire Boris.
Posted by: Robert Eve | April 17, 2009 at 17:43
How can anyone "continue to admire Boris" when our mayor will not respond or act upon any of the issues arising due to police conduct at the G20 protests. Surely, unveiling portraits is not important to London or the country. He is a funny and eccentric man, but he isn't doing his job. The ex-Mayor of London is responding to Channel 4 tonight about the latest findings on Mr Tomlinson's death. Where is Boris?
Posted by: Rudy | April 17, 2009 at 17:52
"The ex-Mayor of London is responding to Channel 4 tonight about the latest findings on Mr Tomlinson's death."
He really really can't get over losing can he?
Posted by: RichardJ | April 17, 2009 at 17:54
Bravo Boris! What a star!
Posted by: Freddy | April 17, 2009 at 17:58
Red Ken should be locked up as a traitor. A traitor he is after all. A portrait of the Queen should be in City Hall. All those that want to live in a republic, bog off to France and leave us alone. I am a royalist now and will still be when Prince Charles becomes Charles III. The more loyalty we have to the monarchy and the nation, the stronger we'll be in fighting the evil spread of anti-British sentiment caused by our socialist government's multiculturalism con. I'm glad I voted for Boris and I'll do it again.
Posted by: Tristan Downing | April 17, 2009 at 18:16
I was listening to my i-pod on the train today, and to my horror even that was invaded by Ken Livingstone, who gave a narration to a track on Blur's 1995 album "The Great Escape". I had to click onto the next song I felt so sick!!
Posted by: Cleethorpes Rock | April 17, 2009 at 18:31
Hoorah!
Suitable on the day HM is revealed as the most trusted public figure, and Boris as one of the most trusted politicians.
Finally a piece of news to make one proud about our system of governance amidst all the recent socialist shenanigans!
Posted by: Dave | April 17, 2009 at 18:37
Boris it seems to me is a much more canny and ruthless politician than he is given credit for. He seems to be building up his base amongst the rank and file Party. Possible Prime Ministerial ambitions maybe????
Posted by: DANIELLE | April 17, 2009 at 19:16
Come now, we don't want to become as paranoid as the government.
Posted by: Tristan Downing | April 17, 2009 at 19:27
"How much is this likely to cost?"
Good question. I don't know much about artist's rates. Depends who he has commisioned it from, I guess.....
Posted by: Comstock | April 17, 2009 at 19:29
To those worrying about the cost:
There is of course a low cost option. You stick a 1p coin on the wall with Blu-Tack. Wouldn't be the same though would it?
Did Livingdead have a portrait of Chavez, Castro, Lenin etc anywhere?
Posted by: Conand | April 17, 2009 at 19:43
Not the queen.
Posted by: Callum Wood | April 17, 2009 at 20:04
Why are the BBC always asking Livingstone's opinion - I was under the impression that Boris had got more votes than he did!
Posted by: Freddy | April 17, 2009 at 20:27
I love that Her Majesty's hair looks exactly like an eighteenth century powdered wig.
Posted by: Nizhinsky | April 17, 2009 at 20:30
Good for Boris yet another blow for freedom and against the forces of oppression. His Heart is in the right place; bless..
GSTQ
Posted by: The Bishop Swine | April 17, 2009 at 21:56
Well done Boris that you are rectifying – in Jonathan’s words – that “shameful omission”. Of course a picture of our head of state should adorn City Hall.
As others have suggested, it’s amazing Comrade Livingstone didn’t have a prominent picture of Lenin in City Hall – as per his beloved Soviet Union’s custom to have an image of their lauded Lenin in all public buildings. And not forgetting Comrade Livingstone’s ‘love-ins’ with Comrades Castro, and Chavez. Indeed, as he so admires Communist countries, it’s a wonder he didn’t move to one long ago as he’s plainly not happy here.
And like Freddy @ 20.27 – I, too, am sick of seeing/hearing Comrade Livingstone who ought to have faded from public view after losing to Boris. However, as the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation are mad about Lefties – Comrade Livingstone keeps popping up like some sort of political pundit Jack-in-a-box. But what is really irksome is LBC have given Comrade Livingstone a Saturday morning ego show – where he spends the bulk of the programme whinging about Boris. No wonder Boris calls him “Banquo’s Ghost”. He’s now starting to haunt the rest of us non-Lefties, too.
Re hanging Comrade Livingstone for treason – he deserves to be joined by fellow Comrades B-Liar, and Brown as the latter deadly duo started to break the 1707 Act of Union. And – please – no nudity. The thought of Comrade Livingstone in his birthday suit is totally heave-making.
Posted by: Jill, London | April 17, 2009 at 23:34
The BBC love their IRA loving Marxist poster boy. Knowing the disproportionate employment record of the BBC, most of them would love Ken in his birthday suit. The entire Labour party should be thrown in a siberian prison camp. There is no need to be seeing any more of that idiot Ken, or Blair with his sickening faith quest, I definately don't want to see Brown again after he is removed from power. He should be stoned on sight.
Posted by: Tristan Downing | April 17, 2009 at 23:55
Did you read the poll? Boris (20%) is almost as trusted as DC (21%)!
The Dear Leader only scored 12%!!
Posted by: Freddy | April 18, 2009 at 01:00
"The Dear Leader only scored 12%!!"
That is still a lot of people with severe mental health issues.
Posted by: The Bishop Swine | April 18, 2009 at 11:24
Congratulations to Boris - delighted that a portrait of HM The Queen is to hang in the City Hall. That is exactly as it should be. Queen Elizabeth II is an unrivalled role model of consistency, steadfastness, commitment and faithful service not only in the UK but around the world.
Posted by: Margaret | April 18, 2009 at 23:18