Mobbed by the media, with fans wildly chanting his name, Britain's biggest political celebrity strode into Birmingham's New Street station.

It was a scene unlike any other in recent times, more befitting a rockstar than a Conservative mayor of London.

Crowds of media and commuters jostled to take snaps, and passers-by chanted "Boris, Boris, Boris" and "There's Only One Boris Johnson".


Michael Crick
"It's the Proyme Minister, the Proyme Minister," said Brummie commuters as Boris Johnson arrived just now at New Street.


Michael Crick
Songs of "There's only one Boris Johnson" and "You're so beautiful" from public as Johnson arrives at New Street.

More photographers greeted him as he arrived at the Hyatt Hotel, with Boris telling reporters he was "here to support the party" rather than make trouble for the Prime Minister.

And he stood, rabbit in the headlights, in front of flashing cameras after getting into a lift whose doors were slow to close.

Johnson topped a national YouGov poll in mid-September, which found him to be the most respected politician in the country, more popular than Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron.

Boris Johnson is now 12/1 to be the next Prime Minister, according to Ladbrokes, beaten only by Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper.

SEE ALSO

Cameron vs Boris: Who Comes Out On Top? (PICTURES, VIDEO, POLL)


Boris Johnson, The Prince Across The Water, Holds Court In Birmingham

His address on Tuesday is expected to top Cameron's speech on Wednesday as the highlight at the Conservative Party conference, and he's holding an "Olympotastic" victory rally on Monday evening.

Earlier, he told BBC Radio 5 Live that it was "unverifiable" whether Cameron was a better prime minister than he would be.

And as for whether he like to be prime minister after he is done with being London mayor?

"After four years are up, heaven knows. I will be an old man."

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Although he declares himself loyal to Cameron, he has often launched blistering attacks on the government, especially over transport and his pet cause, a new London airport on "Boris Island" - recently accusing the government of "continued inertia which is being fully exploited by our European rivals".

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A poll conducted by the grassroots Conservative Home found that Boris was the overwhelming favourite to succeed Cameron, with 37% of Tory members backing the mayor to take over should the Tories lose the 2015 election.

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  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • Conservative Party Conference 2012

    London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives at Birmingham New Street Station before attending the Conservative Party conference today.

  • Conservative Party Conference 2012

    London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives at Birmingham New Street Station before attending the Conservative Party conference today.

  • Conservative Party Conference 2012

    London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives at Birmingham New Street Station before attending the Conservative Party conference today.

  • Conservative Party Conference 2012

    London Mayor Boris Johnson arrives at Birmingham New Street Station before attending the Conservative Party conference today.

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

  • The Conservative Party Annual Conference Continues In Birmingham

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Mayor of London, Boris Johnson is greeted by journalists as he arrives at Birmingham New Street railway station to attend the Conservative party conference at the International Convention Centre on October 8, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference began yesterday and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)