If Boris is serious about helping his party he’d seek to be the CON candidate in Clacton
The mayor’s the only one who could stop UKIP in its tracks
One of the big political decisions that the Tories will have to make in the next few weeks is who should be the candidate to fight UKIP defector, Douglas Carswell, in Clacton. The consequences for Cameron’s party of a UKIP victory in the seat are enormous and they have to do everything they can to stop him.
Boris Johnson has decided he wants to return to the commons and is currently trying to secure the Uxbridge nomination. But he would be helping his party far more if he took what would be a massive gamble and made himself available to fight Clacton.
We have seen in two London mayoral races that Boris has the unique appeal to reach out far beyond the Tory party’s traditional supporter base. He’s also the one CON figure who is very popular with UKIP voters.
-
A Johnson candidature in Clacton, I’d suggest, would lead to a CON hold and would put him in a far better position to fight for the leadership when the time arose.
Ladbrokes http://t.co/OKFhPuoEOc make Boris a 33/1 shot to fight Clacton for the Tories.
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 29, 2014
I don’t think he will – but who knows with Boris?
Peter Oborne in the Telegraph makes a strong case for Boris to stand.
The day’s big polling news
CON takes lead in today's Populus online poll
Lab 34 (-4), Con 35 (+3), LD 8 (=), UKIP 13 (-2)
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) August 29, 2014
I’ve put a little bet on at 33/1.