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Nine Times Boris Johnson Tried To Dodge Saying He Wants To Be Prime Minister

9 Awkward Times Boris Used Weasel Words To Avoid Saying He Wants Dave's Job
Asa Bennett
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The Mayor of London Boris Johnson (L) and British Prime Minister David Cameron speak as they travel on an underground train to Westminster after visiting Harrow Skills Centre and meeting local shoppers in northwest London, on May 12, 2014, during campaigning ahead of European Parliament and local elections on May 22. AFP PHOTO / STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL (Photo credit should read STEFAN ROUSSEAU/AFP/Getty Images)
STEFAN ROUSSEAU via Getty Images

Boris Johnson has finally decided to stop ducking questions about his parliamentary ambitions, telling reporters this morning that "in all probability" he would look for a seat to fight for in 2015.

Insisting he would still serve out his term as London Mayor, which ends in May 2016, Johnson took pains to play down how inevitable his return to parliament could be, adding: "You should never underestimate the possibility of things going badly wrong."

See also:

Boris Johnson Finally Confirms He Will Seek Election To Parliament In 2015

6 Seats Boris Johnson Could Return To Parliament From In 2015

Johnson may have ended years of ducking and diving about whether he would try to return to parliament, but he still dodged the question of whether he wants to be Tory leader and ultimately prime minister as he did not want to get into "weasel words".

As a reminder, here are nine times Johnson used his own "weasel words" to avoid saying if he wants David Cameron's job.

9 Times Boris Johnson Denied Prime Ministerial/Leadership Ambitions
July 2003: "I'm more likely to be decapitated by a frisbee"(01 of07)
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When asked by school pupils in his Henley consistency if he wanted to be Prime Minister, Johnson said: "I have as much chance of becoming Prime Minister as of being decapitated by a frisbee or of finding Elvis."
June 2004: "I'm more likely to find Elvis on Mars"(02 of07)
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"My chances of being PM are about as good as the chances of finding Elvis on Mars, or my being reincarnated as an olive," he said in 2004.
October 2011: "I really don't want to do anything else"(03 of07)
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Speaking to ITV at the Tory party conference, Johnson insisted that he did not expect to do "another big job in politics" after leaving City Hall, adding: "What I want is to get re-elected."
January 2012: "Of course not, I count Dave as a friend" (04 of07)
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May 2012: "I'll be serving out my term as mayor"(05 of07)
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As he fought to be re-elected Mayor of London, Johnson brushed aside speculation by insisting his mind would be focused on serving out his second term.
May 2013: "Dave will win 2015"(06 of07)
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Goaded by Cameron's former top spin doctor Andy Coulson, Johnson insisted he did not want the Prime Minister to "fail miserably" so he could "ride in on his bike and save party and country" as, he said, Cameron would go on to win.
March 2013: "It's not going to happen"(07 of07)
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Asked in a documentary about whether he wanted to be Prime Minister, Johnson gave his most teasing answer yet, responding. "Obviously if the ball came loose from the back of the scrum – which it won’t— it would be a great, great thing to have a crack at it."But, he added: "It’s not going to happen.”
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