I would imagine that "NULAB" would be happy to get shut of Ken and more so if he were to be replaced by a pantomime clown like Boris who, through the likes of HIGNFY, the BBC helped to promote. Let's face it neither of them are terribly credible or in the Guliani mould. Boris is a Tory toff, so what, at least he's not a phoney like Camera-on. Are you on the run over there Sephanie?

J.A.W. Clough, REYSSOUZE, France

I'm thinking of moving to London and standing as an independent. Someone needs to challenge the cosy assumptions of the major parties on everything from the Olympics to the constant ramping up of so called green taxes.

Much as I like Boris, the choice of him for candidate proves what many have been saying about Cameron. The man is all image with no substance. That is Boris in a nutshell.

Cameron's desperation for a well known figure has exposed his lack of judgement yet again just as his sackings of people whenever they say something which might be a little bit controversial have done. How will he react when Boris inevitably makes a faux pas?

This is what is going on in the country in microcosm. Instead of opposing policies the Tories are obsessed with image. We need a real alternative to Livingstone just as we need one for Brown. When are we going to get one?

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

Judging by the piece in The Guardian's CiF (am I allowed to mention that?) , the unearthing has already begun. If Cameron wants to fight the mayoral election with a candidate who talks of picaninnies and Africans with "watermelon smiles" then, as a Labour voter, I'll be delighted.

I'm particularly looking forward to those who've tried to make spurious charges of anti-semitism stick against Ken defend Boris on this.

Sy, London,

If I had the choice of a funny joke as Mayor of London as opposed to the current incumbent who is a sick joke I know who I would pick.Why on earth Londoners voted for Livingstone with his congestion charges that have only moved the problem elsewhere and saddled them with a colossal debt burden for the constantly escalating cost of the Olympics is beyond me.

philip, Ipswich,

Having chosen to stand "Boris", has no option but to go for it. Standing down (and staying in Parliament) will be interpreted as cowardice and is not an option. Better to go down in style (and like Ken, he is very much a man of style).
This is a fascinating contest and both men will need to prove their mettle.

jonathan, Tel-Aviv , Israel

The present holder of the title has upset a number of people during his time as London's First Man, and as much as Boris is an entertaining personality I could see Boris headlines in every major newspaper in the western world, every week !

Phil de Buquet, Newport, England

Grammar, Miss Tooty, grammar! Why "DON'T" Cameron and Boris, not "doesn't". Kindly keep your views to yourself until you can express them properly...

Archie, London,

I have visited Boris in his surgery in Henley and also Thame and while I believe that the may be a good laugh and fun to be around he is not a political animal for one simple reason; he finds policy boring.
Boris is a celebrity and in his more serious moments a philosopher and social commentator.
I wish Boris well but I wish he'd give up politics and go back to editing. He's in the wrong job as MP for Henley on Thames and will never make a decent mayor.

Jane, Henley on Thames,

Don't discount Brian Paddick - as a gay and liberal "wet" with plenty of administrative experience in a tough london borough as well as being an enemy of the discredited Sir Ian Blair, he may pull in a lot of alternative votes. There are a lot of Londoners this time round determined to vote for anyone but Ken. Expect Ken to make a determined bid for the Moslem vote which will of course lose him the gay vote......

honeyrose, London ,

Nice to see Tim that you've kept a university feud based on class warfare alive for so long. Boris will win because the country and the capital are growing tired of Left wing governance. With the housing market starting to collapse the feel-good-factor will evaporate.

Andrew Jones, Cheltenham, Glos

Mr Hames,

This article says much more about you than it says about Mr Johnson.

It doesn't say good things either.

TruffleWednesday, Cambridge,

The blondest suicide note in history?

Joe, brussels, belgium

It is plain to see that the NULAB/leftists are very worried that Boris is running and will most likely win! The leftists are busy planting sabotage stories ably assisted by the NULAB mouthpiece (BBC) One "story" flogged by the BBC is that if boris won he would "damage or destroy londons multicultural harmony" (whatever that means) So Ken & Co are trying to smear Boris as a racist and a Tory toff!
So we will see lots of dirty tricks/smears and leftist propaganda with lots of help from the likes of the BBC/gaurdian Etc. It just goes to show how anti democratic and evil the leftists really are and just how much they have infected the media!

sephanie clague, Larnaca, Cyprus

I read that Ken said he really would have sleepless nights if a candidate like Boris stood against him - smothering his hysterical giggles the while! What sort of serious political party puts up an oaf, oik, nutter et al all embodied in the twittiest of Upper Class Twits and expects to be taken seriously? The only group to win in the totally unlikely event that Boris becomes Mayhor of London would be the Henley Constituency. They've apparently been waiting for years for an MP to turn up there.

Terry Carlton, Chichester, UK

Why doesn't Cameron AND Boris both stand down and for once do something good for their party.

Miss Tooty, Essex, UK

Boris will make a fool of himself, but then again he may still win if the other side can score hundreds of own goals. He knows that he will always be able to gain a seat in the tories, as he is loved in some parts of the country. If he messes this up, rather than just being beaten he won't hold another credible position. Have fun in Henley in a few years time.

Mark, Timbuktu,