Boris: I don't have time to watch TV

3:02pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said he was relieved not to be featured in Headcases - ITV's answer to Spitting Image.

"I feel simultaneously flattered and relieved," he said about being left out of the satirical show - aired for the first time on Sunday.

“We have to make more of an effort with kids who are finding reading difficult. If we can help them overcome it there will be less young people driven to crime."

Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson

The programme's producers revealed last week that, due to broadcast electoral law, to include Boris would oblige them to include fellow mayoral candidate Brian Paddick.

But the candidate known as the "blond bombshell" said he had not heard of the series.

"I am campaigning at the moment - I don't have time to watch television," he said.

Mr Johnson also had trouble when asked by the Sutton Guardian who he felt was the greatest ever Londoner.

"Oh God. Churchill was from Oxford so I can't say him, now let me think," he said.

Prompted by local Conservative councillor Tony Shields, Mr Johnson then named Nelson as the city's greatest resident.

"Horatio Nelson, greatest ever Londoner, and he's from Merton which is not far from here," said Mr Johnson.

The mayoral hopeful visited several shops in Carshalton High Street where he spoke to shopkeepers, customers and passersby - many of whom stopped him to shake his hand.

He also revealed two new policies - the Mayor's Fund for London and the Payback scheme.

The Payback scheme would involve confiscating free Oyster travelcards from young people who behaved badly, and asking them to carry out community work - such as clearing shrubbery and graffiti - to get them back.

The Mayor's Fund for London, which is as yet unlaunched, would encourage City firms to donate money for youth activities such as sport and reading.

"We have to make more of an effort with kids who are finding reading difficult. If we can help them overcome it there will be fewer young people driven to crime.

"That's why I think the Mayor's Fund for London could make a huge difference," he said.