by Samuel Dale
It was the worst kept secret in Westminster but Boris is finally on his way back.
After years burnishing his profile as Mayor of London, he is looking for a Commons seat next year.
Inevitably the focus has been on the implications for Cameron, Osborne and the battle for the Tory leadership.
But it also confirms – almost certainly – that Johnson will not run again as Mayor of London in 2016.
This is leading to a dangerous complacency from Labour.
The theory goes like this: London is a Labour voting city that has been twice charmed by the charismatic Boris but when he goes the mayoralty will slip back to its rightful owners, Labour.
This belief is fuelled by electoral successes.
Labour did surprisingly well in London in the 2010 general election, costing the Tories a majority.
In the intervening years, it has also won back control of councils and had record breaking results in areas such as Camden in May.
But the mayoralty is different. In their own ways Ken Livingstone and Boris have made the Mayor Of London a big job.
