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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Jordan King

LBC bolted down guest seat to stop Boris Johnson dodging cameras when mayor of London

The guest seat in Nick Ferrari’s LBC studio was bolted onto the floor after Boris Johnson kept drifting off camera during interviews while mayor of London, the presenter has said.

Those interviewed on the show are unable to move their chair because of the former prime minister’s habit of moving out of the camera’s vision while answering difficult questions.

Mr Johnson appeared on the show regularly when he was mayor of London from 2008 and 2016, in a segment called Ask Boris.

This is when he became known for dodging the camera, resulting in what LBC staff now call the “Boris bolt”.

Mr Ferrari told Radio Times: “When we were doing the Ask Boris shows and he was mayor, he’d be asked why he was cancelling the 63 bus and he’d just drift off camera.”

The presenter, who is a known fan of Mr Johnson’s, also went on to say he likes Sir Keir Starmer.

He said: “Let the voters have their say, but it won’t be so bad to have a complete change because it will refresh everything.

“The party looks absolutely knackered. Let’s be honest, the talent puddle has been well and truly drained.”

Nick Ferrari has previously said he a fan of Boris Johnson (PA)

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed his “working assumption” is an election in the second half of the year.

On Monday, Mr Sunak sought to create clear dividing lines with Labour as he told voters in Accrington, Lancashire: “You might have heard that later this year there’s going to be an election.

“Now the choice facing our country at that election is do we stick with the plan that is starting to deliver the long-term change that our country needs or do we go back to square one?

“I want to deliver the peace of mind to all of you that will come from knowing that we are building a brighter future for your children and grandchildren.

“And I want to deliver a renewed sense of pride in our country.”

Attacking Sir Keir, he said: “He can’t tell you how he’s going to stop the boats because he doesn’t have a plan to do that.

“He can’t tell you how he’s going to control welfare because he doesn’t have a plan.

“He can’t tell you how he’s going to fund his £28 billion-a-year spending spree because he doesn’t have a plan to pay for it.”

The Conservative UK Government will be hoping 2024 will give Mr Sunak the chance to deliver on more of the five pledges he made to the electorate 12 months ago.

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