Has Boris Johonson chosen polling day to bury bad news?

Our place to talk – an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK.

The most-read independent website by and for Lib Dem supporters. Not paid for by trade unions or millionaires.

Advert

Has Boris Johonson chosen polling day to bury bad news?

By Mark Pack | Thu 1st May 2008 - 9:44 am

Follow @markpack

Curious timing for the story in today’s Times saying that Boris Johnson wouldn’t, after all, quit as an MP if he is elected Mayor of London.

Given all the criticisms made of him during the campaign about whether he’s really got what it takes to do the hard graft of being London Mayor, admitting that you’d only do it part time would be most unfortunate. But if you are going to admit it, trying to bury the news on polling day would be the way to go – you get off the hook of having to stand down as an MP but minimise the changes for attacks on you as only being a part-timer who isn’t really that interested in the job.

The media are normally very reluctant to run anything other than fairly anodyne “today is polling day” stories once the first round of morning media coverage is over. It’ll be interesting to see whether they therefore let this story pass or whether they sit up and examine what looks like a rather cynical attempt to bury bad news.

Read more by Mark Pack or more about boris johnson.
This entry was posted in London.

Advert

3 Comments

Letters From A Tory 1st May '08 - 10:04am

Hmmm, sounds a bit odd. I didn’t see it all in the papers this morning – not even the Guardian seemed to mention it.

http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
Stuart 1st May '08 - 12:50pm

I think it’s great news. Gives us months to get stuck into campaigning in Henley.
Jennie 1st May '08 - 6:10pm

Who’s Boris Johonson?

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

Name *

Email *

Website

Comment

Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Most Read

Op-eds

Why Britain should be wary of Andy Burnham’s Devolution Revolution (Iain Donaldson)
“Build, baby, build” but don’t lower our ambitions on affordability (Victor Chamberlain)
Twenty-six years of evidence on drugs. Twenty-six years of cowardice. (Tanya Park)
Tom Arms’ World Review (Tom Arms)
Observations of an Expat: Gaza (Tom Arms)

Advert

Recent Comments

David McHardy
There is no way out of the housing crisis without mass private building. Private building has stalled because it is unprofitable, as this article explains. This...
George Thomas
"Of course, devolution cannot simply mean moving responsibilities without resources. Local leaders need meaningful fiscal powers, long-term funding settlements ...
George Thomas
Greater devolution without greater funding is a poisoned chalice and that is what's being offered in Wales. That and sly digs at the Senedd. Then it leads t...
William Wallace
I think I became a Liberal from listening to sermons of the social gospel when I was a choirboy. But the social gospel of the New Testament is a very long way ...
Nick Baird
I would add to David Evans' valid concerns above. We are facing reverse-devolution via the abolition of our local (firmly Lib Dem controlled) Borough Council. W...