Boris hints at Tory leadership ambitions

By Peter Dominiczak, Political Correspondent

The Mayor of London referred to Alain Juppé, the former French prime minister and said: “He told me that he was now the mayor of Bordeaux – I think he may have been mayor of Bordeaux when he was Prime Minister. It’s the kind of thing they do in France.” 

It came just hours after Mr Cameron said he would support Mr Johnson in returning to the House of Commons as an MP. 

The Prime Minister said that he has spoken to the London mayor about a becoming an MP, saying he would back his fellow Conservative. 

“I have had this conversation with him,” Mr Cameron told BBC Radio Four, adding that he had told Mr Johnson: “It would be great to have you back in the House of Commons at some stage.” 

It has prompted immediate speculation that Mr Johnson has agreed to be loyal to the Prime Minister ahead of the next election in exchange for Mr Cameron’s support if he attempts to succeed him as leader of the Tory Party. 

It marks a major contrast from last year's conference, which was dominated by Mr Johnson and suggestions that he was plotting to take over as leader of the Tory Party. 

Mr Johnson has often sought to portray himself as a rival to Mr Cameron, but the Prime Minister suggested that the two, who attended Eton College together, are now reconciled. 

“The choice at the next election is very simple,” Mr Johnson said. “It is between the fool’s gold of Labour gimmicks, and a government that is willing to take tough and sensible decisions to cut unnecessary spending but to make the key investments to take the country forward. I know what I want, as Mayor of the greatest city on earth.” 

He added: “I know what you want. I know that we can do it. So let’s go for it over the next two years, cut the yellow Lib Dem albatross from around our necks and let it plop into the sea by working flat out for David Cameron as prime minister and an outright Conservative victory in 2015.”