A furious David Cameron is planning revenge on Boris Johnson after the London mayor launched a series of attacks on the prime minister’s “fudge-arama” over the future of Heathrow airport.
Mr Johnson admitted on Wednesday that Downing Street was “cross” with him, but on Thursday it became clear that Mr Cameron is not going to take the attacks on his leadership lying down.
“We will see what happens the next time he comes around with the begging bowl,” said one Downing Street official. “He might need us one day.”
The veiled threat suggests Mr Cameron could withhold government support for projects Mr Johnson regards as vital to the capital, unless the mayor tones down his attacks on the government.
These include a new rail line from Chelsea to Hackney dubbed Crossrail II, and a tunnel under the Thames at Silvertown. The mayor also pledged in his election campaign this year to press the government to give responsibility for rail franchises to City Hall and in July established a commission to investigate whether London could retain more of the money it hands to the Treasury in tax.
The airports row was triggered on Tuesday when Justine Greening lost her job as transport secretary in Mr Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle – a move seen as paving the way for the Conservatives to perform a U-turn on their opposition to expansion at Heathrow.
The issue, which has riven the coalition, has been shelved until at least 2015, after David Cameron and Ed Miliband, Labour leader, agreed to set up an independent inquiry into the UK’s airport capacity.
Mr Johnson, who pledged to fight a third runway at Heathrow in his election campaign this year, said in a hotly worded statement on Tuesday: “It is simply mad to build a new runway in the middle of west London … Now it is clear that the government wants to ditch its promises, and send yet more planes over central London.”
Normally Mr Cameron’s team shrugs off Mr Johnson’s comments with the words “Boris is Boris”, but the threat of retribution against Mr Johnson reflects a significant hardening in the relationship.
An aide to Mr Johnson downplayed the possibility of repercussions for City Hall, saying: “It’s no surprise that Boris holds these views on Heathrow as that is the platform on which he was elected. He is the mayor of London fighting for the interests of Londoners.”
Although he denies ambitions to be prime minister, Mr Johnson’s success in winning two mandates as mayor of London – usually seen as a Labour city – makes him the leading candidate to replace Mr Cameron as Tory leader.
Mr Johnson, who has surfed a wave of popularity during the Olympics, has form in failing to toe the party line. Past insurgencies include an attack on the government’s housing benefit policy and recent sniping over the question of compulsory school sports.
But Tony Travers, an expert on London issues at the London School of Economics, said there were clear dividends for a mayor taking a distinctive stance. “It’s true that the airport debate is one where central government could overrule him but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have a great deal of political enjoyment and get political benefit from fighting the government on the issue.”
In his election campaign, Mr Johnson made a point of his influence in Downing Street, highlighting his role in “rescuing Crossrail from the Treasury chopping block” and securing a government commitment to fund the Tube upgrade.
Ben Rogers, director of the Centre for London, an independent think-tank, said Mr Johnson had to remain on good terms with Mr Cameron to deliver on his latest campaign pledges.
“The London mayor is highly dependent on the largesse of central government,” he said. “There’s a danger the view will be taken at Number 10 that London has had the Olympics and doesn’t need more.”
Housing, youth unemployment and the City’s international competitiveness will be figuring highly on Mr Johnson’s second term agenda.
But immigration is an issue on which the mayor, who champions London’s status as a buzzing multicultural entrepot, appears dissonant with David Cameron, Mr Travers said.
“If migration is to be slowed down, the impact will be felt more in London than in the other parts of the UK and business is desperate to keep the borders open for labour. It’s awkward for Boris Johnson because playing to the Tory faithful and keeping London open to the world are not necessarily consistent positions.”
