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| Boris Johnson standing for mayor | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boris Johnson is to enter the race to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor in next year's election. | Boris Johnson is to enter the race to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor in next year's election. |
| Mr Johnson, one of the best known MPs, has confirmed that he wants to take on Labour's Ken Livingstone. | |
| He said he had been "overwhelmed" by the support he had received. He has resigned as a shadow minister, but he is to remain MP for Henley. | |
| Mr Johnson is likely to face a number of rivals to be Conservative candidate. The Tory deadline for hopefuls is noon. | Mr Johnson is likely to face a number of rivals to be Conservative candidate. The Tory deadline for hopefuls is noon. |
| In a statement, Mr Johnson said: "I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from so many people across London." | |
| 'Fresh ideas' | |
| He added: "London is an outstandingly varied and beautiful place and it deserves a proper debate. I want to bring fresh ideas to the capital and offer a new direction for Londoners. | |
| "I believe that the Mayor of London should keep things simple and direct his or her intellectual energy at the core problems that affect people's everyday lives." | |
| So, the trick to becoming London mayor is to be known - like Becks, Kylie, Caprice, Gazza - by just the one name BBC News website political correspondent Nick Assinder Analysis: A serious contender? | So, the trick to becoming London mayor is to be known - like Becks, Kylie, Caprice, Gazza - by just the one name BBC News website political correspondent Nick Assinder Analysis: A serious contender? |
| If he is shortlisted as the Tory candidate, he said he would put forward detailed proposals later in the summer. | |
| "Even the greatest cities have further greatness in them. I will stand for a greater London and for putting the smile back on London's face," said Mr Johnson. | |
| The confirmation brings to an end a long search by the Conservatives for a big name candidate with a realistic chance of beating Ken Livingstone. | |
| High profile | |
| Previous possible runners have included Greg Dyke, Digby Jones, Nick Ferrari, Lord Stevens and Sir John Major. | Previous possible runners have included Greg Dyke, Digby Jones, Nick Ferrari, Lord Stevens and Sir John Major. |
| Mr Livingstone - who was elected London's first mayor as an independent and then won a second term after being allowed back into the Labour Party - has said he wants a third term. | Mr Livingstone - who was elected London's first mayor as an independent and then won a second term after being allowed back into the Labour Party - has said he wants a third term. |
| Like Mr Johnson the current mayor is a politician with a high media and public profile. | Like Mr Johnson the current mayor is a politician with a high media and public profile. |
| I think taking on Ken would be the kind of 'big beast' challenge that would be very attractive to Boris Ed VaizeyTory MP | |
| To enter the official race next year Mr Johnson will first have to win over voters in London to become the Conservative candidate. | |
| In April the party 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. | In April the party 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. |
| A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the party would not comment on Mr Johnson's application - or the more than 40 other contenders who have applied to be the party's candidate. | |
| 'Electric' contest | |
| But Tory MP Ed Vaizey,who is close to Mr Johnson and Mr Cameron, said a contest between Mr Johnson and Mr Livingstone would be "electric" and would boost voter turnout. | |
| "Boris finds it quite hard to resist a challenge and I think taking on Ken would be the kind of 'big beast' challenge that would be very attractive to Boris," he told the BBC. | |
| There is an increasing desire among voters for a dissenting voice. Both Boris and Ken are great in this respect. Glyn Evans, UK Have your say | |
| The deadline to apply to be the Conservative mayoral candidate is noon, but the party says it will not name candidates yet - it will be up to them to promote themselves. | |
| They will be considered by a committee who will put forward about ten candidates for interview by an electoral college of London Conservatives this weekend. | |
| A shortlist will be drawn up of between two and five candidates to go forward to an "open primary" of all London voters, closing on 26 September. | |
| The winner is likely to be announced at the end of September. | |
| Mr Johnson is the shadow higher education minister and was previously editor of the Spectator magazine. | Mr Johnson is the shadow higher education minister and was previously editor of the Spectator magazine. |
| He has been a frequent guest on television shows such as Have I Got News for You, and has come under fire in Liverpool and Portsmouth for critical comments he made about the cities. | He has been a frequent guest on television shows such as Have I Got News for You, and has come under fire in Liverpool and Portsmouth for critical comments he made about the cities. |