Boris - the price of success
Saturday, May 3, 2008 So, Boris did it. If, like me, you stayed up for the result to be announced, and then kept awake a little longer for the post-match interviews and analysis ... and, if, like me, you consumed an entire bottle of champagne during that time ... you may be feeling a little worse for wear. Still, it was worth it to see Livingstone de-throned (even if he did give a surprisingly statesmanlike speech).
I can now reveal the less-than-earth-shattering news that, last year, Forest invited Boris to speak at our Revolt In Style dinner at The Savoy. We were quoted £10,000 for a 15-minute speech and the agency warned us that he could be a little, er, "eccentric" - by which they meant he had a tendency to turn up at the very last moment (missing the meal), give his speech, and then leave as quickly as he had arrived.
Hmmm. Ten grand for that?!
As it happens, Boris wasn't available on the night in question and, in his place, we got his old Spectator boss Andrew Neil who joined us for three, maybe four, hours, gave an excellent speech, and was worth every penny of his fee.
A year on, the "eccentric" Boris Johnson is mayor of London. Who would have thought?! (Let's just hope he hangs around for more than 15 minutes.)
People
Reader Comments (4)
I know this is something of an anti-Boris site, well not the site, so much as the posters, but I do feel that someone needs to congratulate dear Boris on his achievement, of finally ridding us Londoners of the odious Ken Livingstone. If Boris never achieves anything else, he will always have my gratitude, and I am sure millions more Londoners, for doing that for us.
Thank you once again Boris, and now show those bloody disbelievers what you can really do.
I spent a great deal of time watching events unfold, Peter, and I find myself agreeing with you. I believe Boris will be good for London and good for politics.
Have a butchers at the F2C front page. I have done a piece on Boris.
Atleast we got rid of a labour mayor, now let us go after the whole dictating labour party and get them out of power, as we have had enough of them destroying this country and causing lots of streess for a lot of people.
I just had a look at the article Colin, very good.
As you quite rightly say, Boris is definitely his own man, and I have a strong feeling that we might, just might, hear more from Boris in the not too distant future, regarding his feelings on giving people freedom of choice.
I feel that his hands were tied while running his election campaign, one wrong word from him, and there were a few wasn't there, and his opponents would have fallen on him like a ton of bricks.
If we are going to hear anything from him regarding his thoughts on whether owners/ publicans, should have their rights to say what happens in their own establishments, then I think it will come maybe late summer, fingers crossed.