Brilliant Boris: Back Him For Britain

Just saw London Mayor Boris Johnson being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on BBC2's Newsnight.

Now, it's a great shame that Boris is being forced to mostly hold a party line on a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

It led to a wobble for Boris when being interviewed by Andrew Neil on the Daily Politics - another BBC2 show.

However, what we know is that Boris - being described by the Daily Mail as "the darling of the Tory rank and file" - is using language like "scandalous" to describe what has happened over the Lisbon Treaty here in Britain. This puts him in tune with the majority of the British public.

He is also openly calling for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty... now. Journalists are trying to get him to say what the Tories should do if the matter is a done deal when and if the Conservatives come to power.

One suspects that Boris is on the side of the British people and one suspects that he would deliver what we want. However, it appears - appears - that Tory high command have told him to keep quieter than he (and we) might like. Difficult for Boris.

Whether that is true or not, one can only speculate. But it seems that way.

Background to one side, Boris Johnson's performance on Newsnight was top notch. In the entire history of Jeremy Paxman's association with the programme, has anybody - anybody of any party - ever totally got the better of Paxman?

Former Conservative leaders Michael Howard and William Hague have both separately and famously demonstrated they are no match for Paxman.

Boris Johnson, on the other hand? Reduced Paxman to a squirming, defeated wreck. And who watching - apart from the most ardent of Ken Livingstone supporter - did not cheer Boris's one-upmanship over Paxman?

We said it before and we'll say it again.

Boris for Britain, please. Conservatives... get Boris back into Parliament. His country - and your party - needs him.

** If you want to see Boris's rather splendid Conservative conference speech in full, then the BBC have it online HERE.

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The BBC have had a run of interesting political coverage today. The Daily Politics also had an interesting discussion with Conservative MEP Dan Hannan (patriot) and UKIP's Nigel Farage (patriot).

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph is using an editorial to describe ZaNuLiebour's reneged promise of a referendum as a "betrayal" which "should neither be forgotten nor forgiven".

Whilst Melanie Phillips has an excellent article over on the Daily Mail.