Stop playing jester if you want to be PM, Boris is told

Boris Johnson needed to do more to impress the focus group
Boris Johnson needed to do more to impress the focus group
LYNNE CAMERON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Boris Johnson must stop acting the buffoon and decide to grow up as a politician, according to a Times/YouGov focus group of swing voters.

The Mayor of London brings a touch of humour to politics, but risks becoming a jester if he is not careful, with only a couple of participants ready to think of him as a front-rank politician.

“I’m not sure he’s strong enough to lead the country but he certainly gets people’s interest, so may get more people involved in knowing what is going on in their country,” said Tracey, who voted Liberal Democrat in 2010.

Martin, who voted Labour, said that Mr Johnson “has obvious talent but he must stop acting the buffoon — or is it an act?”

Former