Boris Johnson - mayoral candidate

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Question: How do you as a white Old Etonian representing an affluent constituency outside the capital convince multicultural, working class Londoners that you are the best person to be mayor?

Johnson: I think that Londoners of all communities and backgrounds are listening to what I have got to say on reducing crime and disorder and making this city safer and more pleasant for everybody.

That's why I've talked so much about putting more police on the buses. That's why I want to ban alcohol on the Tube to make journeys safer for people late at night who feel it is scary to sit opposite someone who is swigging from a can of lager in a way that is often intimidating.

I think people across London are listening to the message of a potential mayor who will champion their interests and protect their businesses from shoplifting and assaults that are happening on a daily basis.

I don't think Londoners give a monkey's where you come from, that is the whole joy of London. They don't care what your background is what they are interested in is that you are willing to work hard for them and that's what I'm going to do.

Question: If you won, what would it mean for the Conservatives in London and nationally?

Johnson: I hope it would be a great day for London, nevermind the Conservative Party.

I hope it would mean change in London, a change for the better, an end to an administration that is increasingly mired in sleaze; that has lost control of the finances - not least, of the Olympics.

I hope it would be the beginning of a new programme with some imaginative ideas on transport to get out city moving more smoothly; on housing, to help people get social rented housing but also to help them onto the property ladder and to make this city safer.

Question: But would it help finish Gordon Brown?

Johnson: Do you know what I think about Gordon Brown? I think Gordon Brown is doing a very good job finishing himself off without my assistance.

Question: Would you stand down as an MP if you were elected?

Johnson: I have always made it clear that having been elected mayor of London, I would have no choice but to leave Henley.

Question: Have you properly costed your spending commitments?

Johnson: We have completely costed the commitment to spend £100m on a new generation Routemaster and I challenge the Labour mayor to come up with figure for his 500 hybrid buses and I challenge ePolitix to winkle it out of him.

Question: Has multiculturalism failed London?

Johnson: I think it depends what you mean by multiculturalism. I'm in favour of a multicultural London if by that you mean that everyone comes together, learns from each other and understands the joy and beauty of each other's cultures and everybody makes an effort to appreciate where each other comes from. That seems to me to be wholly admirable and beneficial.

What I don't like is a multicultural agenda that tries to segregate one group from another, tries to keep people in little boxes and then feeds parcels of money to this and that group in the expectation of getting electorally rewarded. I don't think that is the way to go.

I want to unite London and not divide people and play up divisions.

Question: Norman Tebbit said to us that had his cricket test been taken more seriously, we might have prevented the 7/7 bombings. Is that a view you agree with?

Johnson: I think that's simplistic. If you look at the reasons why young men turn to violence it is often due to feelings of alienation, lack of role models, lack of boundaries and deep disaffection.

No doubt some of those feelings were made more potent by radical extremism and that was the problem there.

I don't accept the analysis of Lord Tebbit there, in fact, I think it is perfectly possible to feel multiple loyalties.

But I do think that people who live here ought to speak English and I will make sure we help people to learn; they should have an understanding of our history and I will make sure we will promote that and people should have a sense of being British.

The citizenship ceremonies I have been to are deeply moving and I defy cynical journalists to see scores of people from countries all over the world coming to London and being inducted into British citizenship not to be moved.

It was a good measure by the Labour government but there was a very interesting discussion within the party about it.

Some, like David Blunkett, were concerned about the use of the flag and the anthem and these traditional totems but in the end, the traditions won. Not because Labour ministers wanted it but because the immigrants wanted it, because in the end, what people who come to this country want is something they identify with, some symbol of Britishness which means something to them and we should stay with it.