Is Boris On His Bike Back To Westminster?

Time Is Running Out For Boris To Stand As MP

Updated: 12:13pm UK, Wednesday 23 April 2014

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

After months (and months) of speculation, is the time finally here?

According to reports, Boris Johnson is poised to announce he will stand as an MP at the next election.

Apparently, he is worried that Conservative backbenchers are sick of his perceived dithering and think he needs to come clean about his intentions.

Well, there's not much sign of the dithering stopping just yet.

Confronted by Sky News on his way into work, the Mayor of London merely said he was just "getting on with my job". Not exactly a definitive answer.

The Mayor may be refusing to confirm his plans, but time is running out if he does want to run.

First off - he needs to secure a seat.

Secondly, if he announces he is running in the autumn or later he will be open to accusations of scuppering David Cameron's chances of a 2015 victory by overshadowing the campaign.

Of course, there is an alternative theory: that Boris will wait until after the next General Election to run as an MP.

But if he harbours hopes of being the next Conservative leader, that could be too late.

If David Cameron fails to win a majority, the knives will be out and the search for a new leader will begin.

Candidates such as George Osborne, Theresa May, Michael Gove or even Sajid Javid are all perfectly placed to begin their campaigns instantly.

Boris Johnson - trapped in City Hall - will not be.

So ignore Boris Johnson's bashfulness over his ambitions: the smart money is on a summer announcement.