Will Boris Johnson stand
as MP for Uxbridge?
There has been renewed speculation that London mayor Boris Johnson will now that he intends to
return to Westminster stand as MP for Uxbridge.
The Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Sir John Randall, has confirmed he will be stepping down ahead of the general election next year.
The Conservative said he would also serve out the remainder of his term as London mayor, due to end in 2016.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who has previously said he would welcome a return to the Commons by Mr Johnson, called his decision "great news".
Labour accused Mr Johnson of breaking his promise to Londoners not to stand.
The mayor has been linked with a number of seats, including Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in London, but he said he did not have a particular target in mind at the moment.
'Give it a crack'
There has long been speculation that Mr Johnson will seek a return to Parliament so that he can mount a bid for the Conservative leadership when David Cameron stands down.
The mayor was giving speech on his EU policy when he confirmed his intentions, in response to a question from a journalist.
He told an audience at the Bloomberg headquarters that he had "danced around" the issue "for an awfully long time", adding: "I can't endlessly go on dodging these questions."
The road back to Westminster
To run to become an MP, Boris Johnson would first need to win the nomination of a local Conservative association.
Constituencies where there are possible vacancies include: Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Kensington and Chelsea, Banbury, Henley, South Cambridgeshire, Richmond Park, Bromley, Chislehurst, Beckenham, Louth
"So let me put it this way. I haven't got any particular seat lined up but I do think in all probability I will try to find somewhere to stand in 2015.
"It may all go wrong but I think the likelihood is I am going to have to give it a crack."
Asked if his target seat would be within the M25 or in the north of England, he said: "This is a matter for the (local Conservative) association. I am not going to presume to talk about which seat I might go for."
'Surprised'
His announcement came at the end of a speech in which he said the UK should not be "afraid" of leaving the European Union if Mr Cameron fails to win a substantial renegotiation of the relationship with Brussels.
In March, the prime minister told the Sun newspaper he wanted Mr Johnson back in Parliament by 2015, comparing him to a "great striker you want on the pitch".
Following Mr Johnson's announcement, the prime minister, who is on holiday in Portugal, tweeted: "Great news that Boris plans to stand at next year's general election - I've always said I want my star players on the pitch."
For Labour, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "Boris Johnson's announcement reveals how weak David Cameron is and how out of touch the Tories remain."
He added: "Today has also shown Londoners that, when they need a mayor prepared to address the big challenges facing their city, Boris Johnson's priority is succeeding David Cameron rather than serving their interests.
"What Britain needs is a change of direction - for all their squabbles over who leads them, all the Tories offer is more of the same failed policies."
There is nothing to stop Mr Johnson serving out his term as mayor, which ends in May 2016, while also being an MP. His predecessor, Labour's Ken Livingstone, combined both roles for a year.
Mr Johnson, who served as MP for Henley from 2001 to 2008, was a Conservative education and culture spokesman before running for the mayoralty.
John Howell, who replaced Mr Johnson as MP for Henley, told BBC Radio Berkshire: "I'm just glad he's made up his mind. It did nobody any good when he was just sitting on the fence.
"I'm quite surprised. I thought he would see out a third time as London Mayor. He's done a very good job as mayor. T there's no taking away from that and I was expecting him to stay on."
The Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Sir John Randall, has confirmed he will be stepping down ahead of the general election next year.
Boris Johnson has ended months of
speculation today by saying he will "in all probability" seek to become an MP again at
next year's general election.
The Conservative said he would also serve out the remainder of his term as London mayor, due to end in 2016.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who has previously said he would welcome a return to the Commons by Mr Johnson, called his decision "great news".
Labour accused Mr Johnson of breaking his promise to Londoners not to stand.
The mayor has been linked with a number of seats, including Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in London, but he said he did not have a particular target in mind at the moment.
'Give it a crack'
There has long been speculation that Mr Johnson will seek a return to Parliament so that he can mount a bid for the Conservative leadership when David Cameron stands down.
The mayor was giving speech on his EU policy when he confirmed his intentions, in response to a question from a journalist.
He told an audience at the Bloomberg headquarters that he had "danced around" the issue "for an awfully long time", adding: "I can't endlessly go on dodging these questions."
The road back to Westminster
To run to become an MP, Boris Johnson would first need to win the nomination of a local Conservative association.
Constituencies where there are possible vacancies include: Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Kensington and Chelsea, Banbury, Henley, South Cambridgeshire, Richmond Park, Bromley, Chislehurst, Beckenham, Louth
"So let me put it this way. I haven't got any particular seat lined up but I do think in all probability I will try to find somewhere to stand in 2015.
"It may all go wrong but I think the likelihood is I am going to have to give it a crack."
Asked if his target seat would be within the M25 or in the north of England, he said: "This is a matter for the (local Conservative) association. I am not going to presume to talk about which seat I might go for."
'Surprised'
His announcement came at the end of a speech in which he said the UK should not be "afraid" of leaving the European Union if Mr Cameron fails to win a substantial renegotiation of the relationship with Brussels.
In March, the prime minister told the Sun newspaper he wanted Mr Johnson back in Parliament by 2015, comparing him to a "great striker you want on the pitch".
Following Mr Johnson's announcement, the prime minister, who is on holiday in Portugal, tweeted: "Great news that Boris plans to stand at next year's general election - I've always said I want my star players on the pitch."
For Labour, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "Boris Johnson's announcement reveals how weak David Cameron is and how out of touch the Tories remain."
He added: "Today has also shown Londoners that, when they need a mayor prepared to address the big challenges facing their city, Boris Johnson's priority is succeeding David Cameron rather than serving their interests.
"What Britain needs is a change of direction - for all their squabbles over who leads them, all the Tories offer is more of the same failed policies."
There is nothing to stop Mr Johnson serving out his term as mayor, which ends in May 2016, while also being an MP. His predecessor, Labour's Ken Livingstone, combined both roles for a year.
Mr Johnson, who served as MP for Henley from 2001 to 2008, was a Conservative education and culture spokesman before running for the mayoralty.
John Howell, who replaced Mr Johnson as MP for Henley, told BBC Radio Berkshire: "I'm just glad he's made up his mind. It did nobody any good when he was just sitting on the fence.
"I'm quite surprised. I thought he would see out a third time as London Mayor. He's done a very good job as mayor. T there's no taking away from that and I was expecting him to stay on."
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