Richard Bryan

Housing, transport and the 2012 Olympics: few people would deny London faces some enormous regeneration challenges. Cue the MP who once admitted, ‘I haven’t got a political career’ announcing he wants to challenge Ken Livingstone for the right to run one of the world’s major cities.
So let’s take a look at the qualities Mr Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson might bring to the job.
Obviously there is his well documented coruscating wit, as demonstrated by appearances on Have I Got News For You?, an entertaining Telegraph column and his forthright views on life.
Then there is the tireless energy. Who could forget his rugby tackle during the Legends football match at the Madejski Stadium? Certainly not Maurizio Gaudino, the German player who probably retired not long afterwards due to ill-health.
Finally, he loves London and is excited by the challenge of leading it. ‘The opportunity is too great and the prize too wonderful to miss,’ he said on announcing his candidature.
If humour, vigour and enthusiasm were enough, Mr Johnson would probably walk it. However, any balanced appraisal of the man must also assess the potential downside of his eccentric character.
London is awash with different cultures, ideas and attitudes, some of which he may disagree with. And therein lies the problem.
‘I meant no insult to the people who live in areas of London unfortunate enough to be saddled with Labour MPs. I’m sure they lead lives of blameless bourgeois domesticity in common with the rest of us,’ Mr Johnson might say after another typically outspoken comment about drugs, obesity and underachievement.
‘There are no disasters, only opportunities. And, indeed, opportunities for fresh disasters.’ A classic Johnson quote which masks an uncomfortable truth: the capital doesn’t need disasters and to the casual observer Johnson might seem like an immense straw-haired one waiting to happen.
London boasts plenty of stand-up comedy clubs for would-be jokers. Meanwhile, the search for dynamic and respected leaders who can address the capital’s regeneration challenges goes on.

Richard Bryan is managing director of QA Research in York