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The BBC, Boris and his true birthright The BBC, Boris and his true birthright
(6 months later)
When the reporters make the news, there's a problem (My inquisitor did a splendid job, says Johnson, 26 March). It wasn't the way Eddie Mair Paxmanned Boris Johnson that was noteworthy so much as the fact that his previous interview on Sunday's Andrew Marr Show, with Alex Salmond, was so softball. Even though Mair questioned Scotland's first minister about his real expectation of the independence poll and a leaked tape, the tone was completely different, almost pally. So when Mair not only got very personal with Boris, but went in for the kill, it looked orchestrated. Was the BBC trying to undercut Michael Cockerell's rather Hello-style documentary, with family members popping up on cue to praise their man? At least Jeremy Paxman's consistently rude.
Jane Hardy
Belfast		When the reporters make the news, there's a problem (My inquisitor did a splendid job, says Johnson, 26 March). It wasn't the way Eddie Mair Paxmanned Boris Johnson that was noteworthy so much as the fact that his previous interview on Sunday's Andrew Marr Show, with Alex Salmond, was so softball. Even though Mair questioned Scotland's first minister about his real expectation of the independence poll and a leaked tape, the tone was completely different, almost pally. So when Mair not only got very personal with Boris, but went in for the kill, it looked orchestrated. Was the BBC trying to undercut Michael Cockerell's rather Hello-style documentary, with family members popping up on cue to praise their man? At least Jeremy Paxman's consistently rude.
Jane Hardy
Belfast
• What a wasted opportunity. Of all the questions that could be put to Boris about his conduct in public office there were three matters, two of which are over 20 years ago. In the meantime he has overruled the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to implement fire station closures and agreed to the closing of police stations.
Patrick McNamee
London		• What a wasted opportunity. Of all the questions that could be put to Boris about his conduct in public office there were three matters, two of which are over 20 years ago. In the meantime he has overruled the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to implement fire station closures and agreed to the closing of police stations.
Patrick McNamee
London
• Thanks are due to Eddie Mair for finally putting Boris Johnson on the spot. So far, Johnson has been grossly indulged, partly because he makes good copy (an indictment in itself) and partly perhaps because he is a fellow journalist. The narrative has been building that we all love him and yearn for him to be PM. Well, some of us don't.
Margaret Pelling
Oxford		• Thanks are due to Eddie Mair for finally putting Boris Johnson on the spot. So far, Johnson has been grossly indulged, partly because he makes good copy (an indictment in itself) and partly perhaps because he is a fellow journalist. The narrative has been building that we all love him and yearn for him to be PM. Well, some of us don't.
Margaret Pelling
Oxford
• Given that Boris was born in the US, and is therefore eligible, surely the nearest he can get to becoming "world king" is US president (Achilles heel of the man who would love to be king, 26 March)?
Geoffrey Renshaw
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire		• Given that Boris was born in the US, and is therefore eligible, surely the nearest he can get to becoming "world king" is US president (Achilles heel of the man who would love to be king, 26 March)?
Geoffrey Renshaw
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
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