The political phenomenon known as Boris Johnson appeared to be at an end last night after Tory leader Michael Howard sacked him from the Shadow Cabinet. For those who are unaware of the tousle-haired Mr. Johnson's contributions to Keeping Life Colourful, a precis is provided here. David Aaronvitch has a (slightly) more serious point to make also.
Posted by Alan Allport at November 14, 2004 08:51 AMDarius Guppy?
Posted by: Martha Bridegam at November 14, 2004 10:41 AMDarius Guppy?
An Old Etonian friend of Earl Spencer (the brother of Diana Spencer aka Princess Diana) and a convicted conman who, IIRC, asked Boris to supply him with the address of a journalist Guppy wanted to beat up. Boris is (or perhaps that is about to become was) one of the seven "blogging MPs". See: www.boris-johnson.com
Posted by: Mags at November 14, 2004 11:51 AMDarius Guppy the Old Etonian bounder and Boris Johnson of the Seven Blogging MPs? Magnificent.
Why you Brits ever bother writing fiction is beyond me.
Posted by: Martha Bridegam at November 14, 2004 01:01 PMI think Arronovitch is right- people don't give two !@**&s about Boris tubbing P. Wyatt-it was obvious to me that he was tubbing her by the fact that her rubbish column kept appearing. When I wrote to Boris with some samples to improve the Low Life column he rejected them and I had to ask him whether the current Low Life writer was Boris's toast fag at Eton or something: you know, that slightly queer tory freemasonry which has a longer, but no less rotten, history than its shiny new counterpart: overtly queer left wing freemasonry- Mandelson and so on; Chris Smith nobbling the Booker prize for Alan Hollinghurst etc. Much as I dislike tories (I make an exception for Dr Johnson) Boris is an amuser. People in the tory party don't realise that with a few bold policy swipes and Boris himself in charge, they could have the whole shop off Catholic Tone next year. And not only that, Boris was dead right about the ever-wallowing scousers.
Posted by: ROBBIE at November 14, 2004 01:36 PMA theory is that this was secretly pushed for by Michael Howard's people. Howard is the current leader of the Conservatives and must be aware that a large section of the UK population will never be tempted to vote Conservative as long as he is leader. Boris is constantly talked up as a future leader and the only Tory the public has actual affection for. Howard called for Boris's resignation a few weeks ago, after a tabloid excitement, and finally sacked him this weekend, after a tabloid excitement.
I knew Darius Guppy,(While we were in Jail 1995) He is a propper good egg. Not a big chap but I watched him lay into the punchbag in the Gym and was jolly impressed and Glad it was not me.
I was very impressed with his ability to argue fluently in French and we would regularly dine together with peter Klause and other con men.
So refreshing to mix with a better class of criminal.