Boris Johnson

Hmm! Both of the big political parties are totally divided. Labour under the new leadership but reasonably firm over the EU, and the Tories over the perennial problem of the EU. Not at all clear that if the vote is to remain -as the polls suggest it will be at the moment- that this will stop the leavers. But Boris will definitely be finished as a leader contender. If the vote is leave then Cameron is finished and possibly the fallout from the debate over the next 3 months will preclude other of those who chose remain. Boris, Gove, and Patel, are looking to the future with hope.

Cameron has the advantage of being relatively popular as PM, and so has the advantage within the country as a whole, Boris is popular with perhaps 2/3rds of the grass roots Tories and a large block of backbenchers.

I've got a feeling that whichever way it goes, it'll make sod-all difference to most of us.

Boris's dad is being unnecessarily pessimistic. I think if he has chosen the losing team, the government will come back together after the referendum. Norty daddy. Very unsupportive.

David Cameron calling leaving the EU a leap in the dark is a bit perturbing to me. He needs to get himself better informed. He could be leader on June 24th with there being a leave vote. I think he needs a lot more idea of what leaving probably means, and what it entails, than he does at present to be able to lead the country. The Out campaign seems to know so he should too. Else Boris really will get his job.

Which leave camp will get the official title? I guess the grass roots group should get it as they probably represent a wider variety of people, but the Westminster Tories are probably pulling out all the stops.

I like that last quote Ethrel.

Prime Minister Johnson and President Trump. We could be heading for interesting times!

From A Diary of The Lady by Rachel Johnson:

'Give up, Debo. As soon as a Johnson wants to win, it's all over ' said by a friend to the Duchess of Devonshire about a bookshop competition won by Stanley Johnson.

Ann Leslie said 'they (the Johnsons) are like Hungarians - they enter a revolving door behind you but always come out in front'

Trying to cope with a none sleeping grandchild -buffoon !

I was taught to call people they when in their company is as rude as calling a person he or she whilst in their company, people have names

He is crouching tiger. He is certainly not a bufoon. He is playing the game

It is a relatively high risk strategy though but I guess he is going for broke. Most of the grass roots Tories are probably in his pocket though, so he probably only had to convince a few more back benches as there are at least 100 in the leave camp. What is interesting is if the decision to give the Westminster clique the official title who will be the leader. Now that is of some interest.

Well, I like Boris, too, and I'm delighted he's joined the Brexit brigade. Yes, of course he's plotting for the leadership, he's a career politician, so why wouldn't he? I read his life story not long ago and, yes, he is not exactly good husband material either but that doesn't mean he would not make a good PM, does it? I don't think his private life should come into it and neither should his dress sense. Go, Boris!

Yes, they think they're so funny don't they Jane?

Ah the cartoon view of British politics. Hilarious *irony alert.

Why else was he dressed in suit, white shirt and tie with his hair combed for his tv appearance today, heir to Cameron , bet Osbourne us spitting nails

Johnson is busy plotting for the leadership. All the potential contenders are in the stay camp. So I guess he reckons he has a clear field if the vote goes to the leave decision. Cameron will be done for and Johnson can claim a victory. A bit of a high risk strategy as nothing is certain, but my bet is that is what he hopes will happen.

No Jen, they are too crafty for that

Do you think Boris and Gove will toss a coin to be leader of the Outs?

Because if he had chosen the stage instead of politics he would be an Oscar winner

He's Mayor of London and MP for Uxbridge - I'm wondering why the country is agog at what he has to say!

Huge scrum of tv etc outside his house, many of them from European networks!

Well at least we know now Boris Johnson is voting to 'LEAVE'.

He should now just settle down to put good , strategic , intellectual points across that we can understand . Not the time for anything else is it.

Ironically, he might probably be good at representing GB on the world stage.
More debatable whether he would do the nitty gritty of daily politics as Pm well.

I will remember for another time that a thread goes where it does.

Boris Johnson will make his decision according to what is best for Boris Johnson. I don't believe he will ever put the country before his career. OK he's an 'adorable puppy' and that's OK in local politics but I cringe at the prospect of him representing Great Britain on the world stage.

Apparently his decision is going to be Tweeted at 10 o'clock tonight (for anyone who just can't wait...)