The Xtra Diary - London Mayor Boris Johnson a dead cert to make new chums!

Published: 30 April, 2010

Is Boris Johnson having a punt on the election?
Well not quite – the Mayor of London, popped into the Coral betting shop while giving a hand to Westminster North candidate Joanne Cash in St John’s Wood on Wednesday.
Boris paid no mind to his tweedy aide and her photo gaffe worries as he stormed around the high street striking up conversations with old chums and making a few new friends along the way.
Diary couldn’t get him to stand still in the butchers though (he probably has an inbuilt detection gene for the “Prime Cuts” jokes).
Boris is certainly a useful campaign weapon.
Hundreds of people came running with their mobile phones held high.
Just in case he’s reading and still fancies a flutter, Ladbrokes puts Ms Cash as odds on favourite, with Karen Buck at 3-1.

On Routemaster to polling day

Boris Johnson promised to bring back the Routemaster as one of his election pledges but it looks like the BBC have pipped him to it.
BBC London will have a special number 94.9 parked outside the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden from 7am to 7pm on Monday as part of its election coverage.
Local people are invited to board up to talk politics, policies and personalities.
There’s even a chance to read the news (Diary thought it was the Beeb who were always complaining about the dumbing down of the news agenda, but maybe we are mistaken).
The public will be joined by candidates from all political parties throughout the day.