Boris unclassified

From LabourList

The Standard are splashing on details of an extraordinary phone conversation between Boris Johnson and Keith Vaz, where Boris appears to have done a Christian Bale over suggestions that he had given dodgy evidence to Vaz’s Home Affairs Select Committee.

The Standard publish nine of the alleged 10 uses of the word ‘f*cking’ during his 15 minute tirade.

Sources who have seen the full transcript tell me the other use is perhaps the most intriguing – with Boris admitting that he appeared unprepared at the Committee because he feared further criticism for his slack response to the week of ‘White Hell’ at the start of February.

Vaz reminds Boris on the call that he gave him the option of postponing his appearance at the Select Committee on the grounds that he was “sorting out London”, but in reality so that he could better prepare his evidence.

Johnson responds: “I didn’t want it to be a f*cking smear on Transport for London”

Vaz says again: “I gave you the way out. You didn’t even have to turn up on Tuesday. It could have been delayed until next week.”

Boris responds: “I didn’t want to do that as I thought a big thing would be made about the London transport system not working.”

The real question this whole episode throws up is the same one many of us have always raised about Boris: is this man really fit to be Mayor of one of the biggest cities in the world?