London’s New Mayor Boris Johnson Acts Like a Joker But. .

Johnson acts the clown but he carries a political dagger which is aimed straight at his party leader David Cameron. One of his recent remarks makes the point perfectly.

Johnson’s  preferred tactic is to use humour to mask his intent and he can always laugh it off later. But this is what he said when congratulated on winning the election for Mayor of London.

 ”We have survived the rain, the BBC, the Budget and endorsement from David Cameron.” This was followed by a widely used shot of Cameron and Johnson shaking hands but neither man is looking at the other and Johnson seems to be hurrying to get away. Not very convincing.

The background was the local government elections which were a disaster for Cameron and showed a massive swing against his coalition government. One that could put the Labour Party in power.

In contrast Johnson defeated Red Ken Livingstone for the second time and secured a four year term.

Naturally there are rumblings against Cameron and his Budget which, in cutting taxes for the better off while also cutting benefits for the least well off – revealed the toxic Tory party of old. Not that Johnson would do anything different, if anything he is to the right of Cameron, but he would be cleverer in presenting hard right Tory policies.

Tory MPs know that and those with thin majorities look enviously at his vote winning charms. Cameron increasingly loses the plot and his temper. Also his hair! Boris of course has a haystack of hair he uses to present his eccentric front.

Cameron’s veneer of leadership is perilously thin. He is easily rattled and lacks Johnson’s effortless air of superiority. There is a reason for that – breeding old boy, breeding! Johnson’s family has direct links to British royalty, European Princes and Turkish aristocracy. This is an old family with deep connections and equally deep pockets. Cameron of course is a millionaire but it’s new money dear boy, the bounder probably had to buy his own furniture while Boris inherited his from a long line of fine country houses.

These things matter in the class ridden UK. And that dagger? Could be Turkish or a Spanish stiletto, a Shakespearean blade – Johnson loves the classics. Whatever. It is aimed straight at Cameron and his ailing leadership of the Coalition Government.