Note Dave’s completely unforced smile:

Boris-mania is brewing in Brum. With the Mayor on his way, out-riders close to the team are pre-smoothing feathers:

“He’s going to be on best behaviour, but then he always says that.”

No pressure then.

UPDATE:

"It's the Proyme Minister, the Proyme Minister," said Brummie commuters as Boris Johnson arrived just now at New Street.—
Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) October 08, 2012

Songs of "There's only one Boris Johnson" and "You're so beautiful" from public as Johnson arrives at New Street.—
Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) October 08, 2012

The stop Boris campaign is gearing up. Following on from John Major’s intervention this week, Grant Shapps has slammed this summer’s Boris Mania. The Tory chairman dismisses the London Mayor’s credentials to make it to No.10. Shapps sniped that Boris didn’t have the “right set of skills” to become PM, and when asked the question directly replied with a firm: “No”. Bojo has now hit back:

Boris aide on Shapps' attack on the Mayor: "No he's not heard them. He is too busy leading London."—
Peter Dominiczak (@peterdominiczak) September 17, 2012

All on the day that Shapps was reported to the police in a classic Labour kite that, without a “victim” of these alleged copyright breaches or plagiarism coming forward, will go nowhere. Presumably Michael Green has all the qualities required to run the country though…

On the weekend the Mail frontpaged a meeting between Zac Goldsmith and Boris in which, they claimed, Zac outlined how if he stood down in protest against Heathrow expansion plans, Boris could stand in his place and return to parliament. Subsequently sources around Zac and Boris have variously claimed it was only “jokingly” mentioned and ”fanciful”, with Boris using the Heseltinian word formulation that he had “absolutely no plans to return to the House of Commons”. So was it only jokingly mentioned by Goldsmith?

Guido has it from reliable sources that it very definitely was mentioned and that Zac went through the strength of feeling on a ward-by-ward basis in the constituency, taking Boris through a detailed analysis of the hostility towards Heathrow expansion in his constituency. Zac argued that either of them would win a by-election if he stood down in protest at a policy change. Tory MPs tell Guido  that Zac is disillusioned with being an MP and may not stand at the next election in any event. It might be preferable for Zac to go out in a blaze of glory on a matter of principle which simultaneously opens the way neatly to a challenge to Cameron if he changes the position on Heathrow expansion… 

Guido can imagine Dave waking up in a cold sweat with cheers of “Boris, Boris, Boris” going through his head…

UPDATE: Now that’s what you call a pained expression:

Boris has refused to rule out standing in a by-election in order to oppose the government on Heathrow expansion from within the House. With Dave failing to meet the London Mayor’s demand to permanently reject plans for a third runway at Heathrow at PMQs, BoJo told the World at One he would lead the opposition if the government u-turns.

Because that’s the only reason why Boris would be interested in a by-election…

There were some golden Boris moments during the Olympics, but Bojo and Barbara Windsor playing sitting volleyball this afternoon has to top the lot. And with that silly season comes to a close…

Boris has been fielding questions from tweeters this afternoon. Here are some of the best:

@mayoroflondon How do you safely use a zip wire without getting stuck? #askboris—
Dan&EmmaCatchpole (@DanEmma2) August 30, 2012

@MayorofLondon do you cut your own hair or pay someone to do that to you? #askboris—
Kate Mythen (@katemythen) August 30, 2012

#askboris I drove down an Olympic vip car lane earlier and got away with it. How does that make you feel?—
Jamie (@Jamie_Dodger_) August 30, 2012

@MayorofLondon would you shag, marry or kill @CherylCole ? #askboris—
Alex Collins (@BalCollins) August 30, 2012

#askboris @MayorofLondon Who would win in a fight between Batman and Yoda?—
Paul Horner (@thePaulHorner) August 30, 2012

#Askboris @MayorofLondon Do gingers have souls?—
Phoxe (@phoxe_de_la_box) August 30, 2012

#askboris How's AAA?—
Alex Wickham (@Wickham_A) August 30, 2012

And finally:

mainly genetic #askboris @LiamLavery1—
Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) August 30, 2012

You’ve gotta love him…

The Olympics might be over, but he’ll be back…