Tory leader gives Boris seal of approval

Updated 17.29 Mon Mar 31 2008

Keywords: candidate, Ken Livingstone, mayor, London, David Cameron, Boris Johnson

David Cameron has given his seal of approval for Boris Johnson to become Mayor of London.

The Tory leader said Mr Johnson is as big a figure as rival Ken Livingstone and twice as charismatic.

"He's a proper Conservative - practical, open-minded and keen to get things done" - David Cameron

Mr Cameron said: "I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man."

He added: "Boris has got a whole set of policies that will really improve life for Londoners. Policies to make our streets safer. Policies to make getting to work easier. Policies to make neighbourhoods greener. And, just as important, he's got policies to make City Hall genuinely accountable - for the first time."

Mr Cameron said London had suffered from "a lack of leadership" under Mr Livingstone, whom he accused of pursuing "irrelevant hobby horses" and changing from "a can-do independent" when first elected in 2000 into a Labour Government placeman now.

The Tory leader acknowledged that Mr Livingstone had done "some good things" as Mayor, but said he had now lost touch with the people who voted him in.

Meanwhile, Mr Livingstone has blamed "flawed" polling techniques amid indications he is trailing by ten points in the mayoral race.

The latest research by YouGov found Mr Livingstone has only marginally eroded Mr Johnson's lead despite frantic campaigning over the past fortnight.

The poll, carried out for the Evening Standard and ITV's London Tonight, put Mr Johnson down two on 47 per cent, compared to 37 per cent for the City Hall incumbent. Lib Dem Brian Paddick and Green candidate Sian Berry were on 10 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.

Mr Livingstone's campaign hit back by claiming that the poll was "fundamentally statistically flawed" for failing to take account of the relatively high proportion of ethnic minorities in London.