London Mayor Boris Johnson in party spotlight; Cameron not worried by ‘rock star’ status
Posted Oct 9, 2012 10:19:51 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LONDON – Boris Johnson has received a hero’s welcome at Britain’s Conservative Party conference, but Prime Minister David Cameron insists he’s not threatened by the London mayor’s “rock star” status.
Crowd-favourite Johnson was careful to use his conference speech Tuesday to predict Cameron would win the 2015 election rather than encourage speculation that he would make a bid for the job.
He also basked in post-Olympic glory, calling for British firms to beat the recession with the “can-do” spirit shown during the London Games.
Johnson’s political profile was raised by the successful Olympics and Paralympics, leading some to suggest he should lead the party into the next election.
Cameron told ITV television it was “great that we have got someone with rock star status in the Tory party.”
