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“Hypocrisy is at the heart of our national character - without the oil of hypocrisy, the machinery of convention would simply explode.”
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It was round about halfway through the second set and things were hotting up on Centre Court when I noticed the mobile starting to flash silently in my breast pocket. Furtively I fished it out. There was no choice. You have to be on call. Even in the throes of the greatest tennis match ever played, you have to be ready to respond to events.
I saw that someone had sent me a text. Was it news of a burst main on the Marylebone Road? Had the police made some breakthrough?
It was my old mucker Steve Norris, and here was the message he had the effrontery to send me. “Shouldn’t you be attending to civic duties,” texted Nozza, “rather than swanning around in the Royal Box at Wimbledon?”
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We have a seat on the UN Security Council and troops in conflicts around the world; and yet this year we didn’t even qualify for the European Championships
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“My word, there’s Boris!” Back in the constituency in Goring-on-Thames today for a very rapid walkabout gathering the views and listening to the needs of residents ahead of this week’s election that will see a successor take over the Henley seat. Thanks for sending the picture, Brian.
Jacqueline Alexander shot and edited this video of Boris responding to some noisy wellwishers after his resignation: Farewell Henley The appearance was also a chance for Boris to ‘introduce’ John Howell as the chosen Conservative candidate for the by-election to be held on 26 June.
The video is also available on the Henley Standard website.
Thanks, Jacqueline!
Boris was in typical form as he used his “last few seconds” in the House to highlight some achievements. Breaking with House etiquette, the Speaker cheerfully reminded “the Mayor” that he was only allowed one supplementary question, not three, and the Prime Minister added that he was sure, “The whole House is going to miss the contributions of the hon. Gentleman, not only in speech, but in writing.” See more…
Boris has today officially confirmed that he is to step down as MP for Henley and a by-election will, therefore, be held.
Admitting that, “these last seven years have been the happiest and most productive of my professional life,” and that he is proud not to have missed “a single constituency engagement” in the last few months, Boris has sent a survey form to constituency residents asking for feedback on issues of local importance. Known as he is for listening and for talking with people wherever he goes within the constituency, this form is intended to reach even more people so please do complete and return it. (And, of course, add your views here!)
As interested as ever in new means of communicating with constituents, Boris was delighted this week to be the Henley Standard’s interviewee for the paper’s inaugural online video. With typical onscreen energy, he acknowledged that he will soon be moving on, praised Henley for its cultural and sporting life and congratulated the paper for its reporting and technological initiative.
In readiness for Boris standing down, it has been announced that Cllr. Dr John Howell, a former partner at City accountant Ernst and Young, was chosen from a shortlist of three. Mr Howell said it was a “huge privilege” to have been selected and he is to spend time talking with and meeting as many constituents as possible before the anticipated by-election.
