London: Boris Johnson will embark on a ‘world tour’ to capitalise on his Olympic popularity amid mounting speculation that he is planning to succeed David Cameron as Tory leader.
The London Mayor is hoping to capitalise on the so-called ‘Boris Bounce’ with a series of overseas trips to India, the Middle East, Brazil and China.
The official purpose of the trip will be to drum up trade for the capital, but senior Tories believe he is aiming to boost his image as an international statesman.
However, Johnson and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt faced questions about their judgement last night after both were pictured with Rupert Murdoch at the Olympics.
The mayor was criticised for inviting the media mogul to watch the swimming with him last Friday.
And Hunt was filmed smiling and shaking hands with Mr Murdoch at the Aquatics Centre on the same night. Critics said both men should have avoided contact with Murdoch because of the investigation into phone-hacking at the News of the World.
The disclosure that Johnson is to unleash himself on the world stage will concern allies of Cameron, who suspect the London Mayor is planning to launch a future leadership challenge.
In a sign that Cameron is rattled by the ‘Boris Bounce’, friends of the PM have warned that the mayor’s buffoonery and colourful life would backfire on him.
One source said: ‘It is one thing for Boris to be London Mayor, but quite another to be Prime Minister. All the stuff in his private life would be in the media and people would not like it. They just won’t put up with that kind of thing from a Prime Minister.’ Johnson continues to deny he wants to be Tory leader. But privately friends admit he is determined to succeed Cameron and a number of Tory MPs are understood to be happy to stand aside to give him a safe Westminster seat before or after the next General Election.
Leading Tory donors have also thrown their weight behind him.
