Skipper

As expected from the national trend, Boris won and is now mayor of London. After second preferences had been distributed Boris garnered 53.18% and Ken 46.82%. It was a good contest, won fair and square and Boris's support in the outer London boroughs revealed that the Tory south has probably now ended its love affair with New Labour. But, once they have enjoyed the 'drink' to which Boris referred in his gracious acceptance speech, he and his colleagues will face a severe test.

The media love Boris- his clownish personna, his habitual gaffes and his taste for Hampstead middle class promiscuity at the office. He is a popular figure-even I like Boris; but celebrity politicians face special hazards. The media will be all over him for months- and the rightwing press as much as the left as readers will buy any paper detailing mistakes by the famous former Bullingdonite. 'Events' might well keep him awake at night as things he cannot control begin to create problems as they always do in politics. My bet would be that the first cock-up will have arrived by September this year and that, in all probability they'll keep on coming. Dave himself might find sleep a bit hard to sustain during these first few dangerous months.