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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boris considered for London mayor | Boris considered for London mayor |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boris Johnson is being considered as a possible Tory candidate to run for mayor of London, the BBC has learned. | Boris Johnson is being considered as a possible Tory candidate to run for mayor of London, the BBC has learned. |
| The Tories have been looking for someone to take on Ken Livingstone, who has held the post since 2000. | The Tories have been looking for someone to take on Ken Livingstone, who has held the post since 2000. |
| They had approached former BBC boss Greg Dyke, but he decided against it, and said he would only have considered standing as an independent. | They had approached former BBC boss Greg Dyke, but he decided against it, and said he would only have considered standing as an independent. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said he had heard Mr Johnson had not dismissed the idea out of hand. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said he had heard Mr Johnson had not dismissed the idea out of hand. |
| But he told the BBC's The Daily Politics that the Henley MP could not think how he could explain to his constituents why he was spending such a lot of time in London. | But he told the BBC's The Daily Politics that the Henley MP could not think how he could explain to his constituents why he was spending such a lot of time in London. |
| 'Scale of character' | 'Scale of character' |
| Mr Johnson is one of the best-known Tory MPs thanks to his regular television appearances and frequent outspoken comments. | Mr Johnson is one of the best-known Tory MPs thanks to his regular television appearances and frequent outspoken comments. |
| Former Conservative deputy PM Lord Heseltine did not appear to take the prospect too seriously, but said that in the past many people would not have taken seriously the idea of Ken Livingstone becoming London Mayor. | Former Conservative deputy PM Lord Heseltine did not appear to take the prospect too seriously, but said that in the past many people would not have taken seriously the idea of Ken Livingstone becoming London Mayor. |
| Draft Boris! That's the call going up in the Tory leader's office BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | Draft Boris! That's the call going up in the Tory leader's office BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| He added: "Boris is very well known, he has a big constituency, he's of a scale of character to match Livingstone." | He added: "Boris is very well known, he has a big constituency, he's of a scale of character to match Livingstone." |
| The incumbent mayor, Mr Livingstone, is also known as an outspoken maverick whose refusal to toe the party line won him much popularity in London. | The incumbent mayor, Mr Livingstone, is also known as an outspoken maverick whose refusal to toe the party line won him much popularity in London. |
| When he was not selected as the official Labour candidate for mayor in 2000, he left the party to run as an independent, winning by a large margin. | When he was not selected as the official Labour candidate for mayor in 2000, he left the party to run as an independent, winning by a large margin. |
| High profile | High profile |
| But he was later re-admitted to the Labour Party in January 2004 and was backed as the official Labour candidate, after Tony Blair said he had been persuaded by Mr Livingstone's record in office. | But he was later re-admitted to the Labour Party in January 2004 and was backed as the official Labour candidate, after Tony Blair said he had been persuaded by Mr Livingstone's record in office. |
| In May the Labour Party confirmed Mr Livingstone, the architect of London's congestion charge, would again be its candidate for the May 2008 elections. | In May the Labour Party confirmed Mr Livingstone, the architect of London's congestion charge, would again be its candidate for the May 2008 elections. |
| Mr Livingstone will stand for a third term in May 2008 | |
| The Conservatives have reportedly been turned down by several potential high-profile candidates including London Olympics supremo Lord Coe, radio presenter Nick Ferrari and former Met Police chief Lord Stevens. | The Conservatives have reportedly been turned down by several potential high-profile candidates including London Olympics supremo Lord Coe, radio presenter Nick Ferrari and former Met Police chief Lord Stevens. |
| In April they set out a five-month timetable to find a candidate - shortlisting applicants to go on to an "open primary" - with all Londoners on the electoral roll being allowed to vote. | |
| The deadline for applications is 16 July, with a short list drawn up by 3 August. | |
| Following a series of hustings, the primary will be held, closing on 26 September. | |
| The winner will be announced at the Tory conference in September. | |
| One of the Conservative front runners for the job, former think tank boss Nicholas Boles, has withdrawn from the race after revealing that he is fighting cancer. |