OPINION POLL:LONDON MAYOR Boris Johnson is riding high in opinion polls, his popularity apparently bolstered by the Games. This makes him, at least in some quarters, the favourite to replace British prime minister David Cameron one day.
A poll for the Independent newspaper showed Mr Johnson is Conservative activists’ first choice to replace Mr Cameron, with 32 per cent wanting him to take the top job when Mr Cameron steps aside.
Mr Johnson has long been popular with grassroots Conservative supporters who revel in his eccentricity and love his often politically incorrect jokes.
Mr Johnson stepped on to the world stage in Beijing, in 2008, to receive the Olympic handover flag on behalf of Britain and has promised to use the London Games to help regenerate rundown working-class areas in east London.
Mr Johnson, who was born in New York, won kudos from all corners of the British political spectrum last week when he chided US presidential candidate Mitt Romney for suggesting London was not ready for the Olympics.
A majority of Conservative activists are pessimistic about staying in power, the poll showed: 53 per cent think Labour will win the next election. – (Reuters)