Charles Moore summarises the Tory leadership prospects…

“Cameron is the moderniser, Boris is the post-moderniser.”

Boris Mania has gone truly global as the London Mayor’s heroic zip wire triumph saw him gain a huge wave of new supporters…in China. His Weibo account – the Chinese twitter – gained some 12,000 followers while his latest fans posted messages of support: ”Such a loveable Mayor…I love his spontaneity, not pretentious at all!” Somehow Guido thinks the Chinese adulation of London’s favourite politician is more genuine than the endorsement they give to their own leaders…

Vladimir Putin will be Dave’s guest of honour at the judo this afternoon, and London’s Mayor couldn’t resist having his say as Boris Mania goes international. At least he didn’t challenge the PM to a duel, yet…

Video courtesy of ITV.

Boris Mania is in full flow today as a YouGov/Sun poll finds that the Tories would close Labour’s lead to just 1% if the London Mayor replaced Dave as leader. Cameron versus Miliband sees Labour take a six point lead, but if Boris were in charge Ed’s rating would fall and the Tories’ popularity would rocket up. No wonder Dave was so testy yesterday…

But could it all be the work of his sinister backer? The Mayor is hardly making hard work for conspiracy theorists. BoJo invited Uncle Rupe to the Olympic swimming finals and two days later he receives a very favourable poll in the Sun:

London in best shape ever. All overboard about the Olympics, brilliantly organized by Zeb Coe and Boris Johnson.—
Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) August 02, 2012

What was it Murdoch said about how to find out what he really thinks?

Cameron has gritted his teeth to comment on Boris’ high-flying success:

“If any other politician anywhere in the world was stuck on a zip wire it would be a disaster. For Boris, it’s an absolute triumph.”

Apparently “London is very lucky” to have him. He couldn’t sound more like he doesn’t want him…

Yesterday the Sun reported of the Mayor:

“In a surprise visit to the beach volleyball in Horse Guards Parade, he also patented the “Boris wave”. He tried to get the 15,000 crowd to do a Mexican wave but his initial effort prompted everyone to stand and throw their hands up at the same time.”

Today he’s reached even greater heights. Tomorrow?

Video courtesy of ITV.

Boris Johnson has been celebrating Team GB’s first gold medal a little too hard in Victoria Park this afternoon, getting stuck suspended 20ft in the air on a zip wire.

Don’t leave him hanging…

Pics via @CartoonBeardy and @RebeccasBrain

UPDATE:

Guido has to admire Boris’ cojones this afternoon. Peter Dominiczak reports that the London Mayor has invited Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi to be his guests of honour at Rebecca Adlington’s swimming final on Friday. Apparently Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger was also invited but was “unable to attend“. Might have been slightly awkward.

BREAKING: Boris Johnson is taking Rupert Murdoch to Friday's Olympic swimming final. #olympics #london2012—
Peter Dominiczak (@peterdominiczak) July 31, 2012

Wonder what Cameron will think when he sees Rupert, Wendi and Boris on the telly on Friday? It may interfere with his chillaxing.—
Peter Dominiczak (@peterdominiczak) July 31, 2012

Why not bring the kids and make a day of it?

Sources close to Boris tell Guido that they find the Political Scrapbook story about secret meetings between Boris and Murdoch minions, as well as the Great Satan himself, popping up now a little bizarre. Given the details of the “secret meetings” were released into the public domain in summer 2011 following a Freedom of Information request which can still be seen on the Mayor’s website here you can understand why.

Scrapbook claim that it still doesn’t explain why no mention of it on the GLA gifts and hospitality register, that would be because the meeting with Murdoch was Boris dropping in late for a coffee at the end of a meal. Even a billionaire’s coffee should come in at less than the £25 threshold for declarations as per the rules:

“1(a)(viii) Any gifts or hospitality I have received from any person which has an estimated value of £25 or more.”

What about the secret lunch with Will Lewis and Rebekah Brooks? Close to Boris sources say that was nothing to do with him in his capacity as Mayor, that was them trying to lure him away from his Telegraph column to write a column for The Times. It was a private lunch on a Friday afternoon…

What puzzles Guido about Political Scrapbook running a year old story is: Why didn’t they run it in the heat of the election campaign when it might have had a dramatic impact? It is almost as if they didn’t want Ken to win…

Via: Guardian Datablog