I’ll be backing Boris: Arnold Schwarzenegger tips London Mayor for next PM

By SEAMUS PETER JOHNSTONE MACLEOD
Published on 17/10/2012 13:16

FORMER Governor of California and Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the masses of the Tory Right in tipping Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, to be Britain’s next Prime Minister.

The Terminator star was in London promoting his new film, The Last Stand, when he gave Mr Johnson his backing and said he believed the eccentric politician has the right qualities for Number 10.

“He has the qualities that are essential for a leader,” Schwarzenegger said.

“For politicians, it’s all about personality.

“Boris is charming, he’s funny, and he’s very clever. But also he is a visionary and he’s very likeable — and that’s really important in politics.”

Mr Johnson returned the compliment, saying: “Neither of us waits for the national government or the federal government or the capitalists to tell us what to do.

“We show that local government can have the power to lead.”

Relations between the two unconventional political stars have not always been so warm.

In response to footage showing Mr Schwarzenegger describing a 2007 speech by Mr Johnson as fumbling, the Mayor replied: “It was a low moment, my friends, to have my speaking style denounced by a monosyllabic Austrian cyborg.”

Having spent time travelling London on the city’s new cable car and on the famed “Boris-bikes,” Mr Schwarzenegger has come to admire London’s Mayor.

However, the Austrian star also offered comfort to the current Prime Minister: “I think David is doing a really great job.

“It’s never easy when you inherit debt like that. Also, I’ve spent a lot of time with him, and I can tell you that he is a very, very, funny man.”

But Schwarzenegger also warned though that Mr Cameron must not try to imitate Mr Johnson.

“It would be a disaster,” he said. “Johnson is authentic. It has to be organic. Cameron must just be himself.”