As Boris Johnson stepped up to the podium to make his acceptance speech, he stumbled, rather comically, much to the delight of gathered journalists. It’s unsurprising really, and the odd trip-up or awkward comment have dogged Johnson’s image in the media for the last decade (time immemorial, in politics).
But, classic episodes of Have I Got News For You aside, what Londoners voted for last Friday was a new mayor, not an entertainer. In the final results, Johnson had a clear lead, finally ousting Ken Livingstone as Labour’s safe choice to guard the capital city.
London is its own universe in many ways. It’s ideologically different from every other city in the country, it’s awaiting the Olympic Games in 2012, and it’s the place most readers of this newspaper will end up working in a few years. Therefore, we all agree that London is pretty important. Has the city made the right choice of mayor?
In his acceptance speech, Boris did his best to reassure both those who did and didn’t vote for him. He spoke wittily, eloquently, and even a little inspiringly. ‘Image’ is something Boris will always be able to cope with – he seems almost immune to the personality pitfalls that plague other politicians and has carved an eccentric niche for himself in which he is in fact very comfortable.
The efficacy of Boris’s policies is yet to be seen, but he’s been saying the right things for Londoners tetchy about the safety and efficiency of the capital city, though perhaps his goals are perhaps a little over-ambitious. Completely re-furbishing the underground? Putting a stop to knife crime? Making the city healthier? All of these promises sound great, but many doubters are unsure whether Boris can follow them through.
I’m sceptical also. But that isn’t really the point. Ken has had his go – and in areas like these he hasn’t exactly come up trumps. Given the choice of staying with Livingstone or going for a completely new approach, I think Londoners, with their reputation for being a dynamic lot, have plumped for Boris: they know, at least, that he’ll do things differently.
Of course, the million or so people who didn’t vote for Johnson, including several major media outlets, are unimpressed with the election results. In particular, The Guardian was openly opposed to his mayorial ambitions. Running apocalyptic articles about Boris’s abilities in the lead up to the vote, The Guardian have now published, a little petulantly, a warning that there are ‘100 crucial days’ ahead for the ‘toff’ who is ‘back on top’. Predictable, no?
Some of the Guardian’s concerns are legitimate, though. Boris really has to prove himself now, and the time for comedic antics is over. I wouldn’t vote Conservative myself, but I’m not too worried about Johnson’s win. The role of mayor is something he’ll take to with vigour – and that’s what London really needs.
