Famous for being famous: Boris Johnson may be the best-known politician in Britain but running on his record could hurt his re-election
He’s the first celebrity politician of the modern age. Known not only by his first name but by his very silhouette, Boris Johnson understands the power and significance of celebrity better than any other political figure in Britain today.
Whether he’s knocking bouffants with Barbara Windsor, or straddling a “Boris bike” with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it is always Boris who manages to steal the star role.
And like other modern celebrities, Boris understands that fame no longer requires the famous to actually do anything. For the modern celebrity, fame itself is both the means and the ends.
Phone hacking: Mayor Boris gets confused
This week, it was revealed the paper’s targets included murder victims, the relatives of those killed on 7/7, and the families of dead soldiers.
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