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Camden New Journal - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 27 September 2007

Boris Johnson in Stables Market

Boris sets out his stall at market

It’s a PR stunt, say critics, but MP reveals he bought his velvet smoking jacket at Lock

IF it’s Friday afternoon, this must be Camden Town – and the man with a mop of blond hair frantically trying to meet as many people as possible can only be Boris Johnson.
The prospective mayoral candidate’s breakneck tour of London made Camden the 26th stopping-off point in three weeks as he landed at the iconic Stables Market, currently at the centre of a controversial multi-million pound redevelopment.
Critics said Mr Johnson, who stepped off an old-fashioned Routemaster bus covered in “Vote Boris” banners, is rarely seen in Camden Town. They dismissed the visit as a PR stunt, staged in the run-up to a decision by Conservative members on who should take on Mayor of London Ken Livingstone in next year’s elections.
Mr Johnson countered by claiming he had been a recent shopper at the market when he bought a velvet smoking jacket.
The former shadow education spokesman was accompanied by an entourage who included Gospel Oak Conservative councillor and parliamentary candidate Chris Philp, Camden London Assembly member Brian Coleman and a group of University College London young Tories.
The visit got off to an inauspicious start with confusion among the team over which part of the market is closing for an overhaul. As a result a series of stallholders who are not moving out were left baffled by Mr Johnson’s questions.
There was a quick chat with a rug trader and some brief words to collectibles shop owner Beverly Gardner on the effects of the development. She said: “It’s a real shame. The vibe has gone.”
Mr Johnson said: “It’s a lovely market. I came here quite recently to buy a very peculiar velvet jacket-type thing because I got invited to a party where it said we had to wear smoking jackets.” But he stopped short of condemning the market’s owners for their plans to modernise it with new glass and steel buildings.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s a wonderful market and, as for the particular row about the development, it strikes me there are arguments on both sides, after 30 seconds of looking at it. I hope whatever we do we don’t lose the character of the place.”
He said that if he became Mayor he would put more police on the streets, confiscate travel passes from unruly teenagers, tackle khat cafés and improve conditions on the 29 bus, one of Camden’s most overcrowded routes.
Labour group deputy leader Councillor Theo Blackwell said: “Boris Johnson was the fourth senior Tory to visit Camden Lock in four years, following David Davis, Oliver Letwin and Steve Norris. It’s like a Tory tourist hotspot now.
“But Boris and the Tories in charge of the planning department at the Town Hall didn’t lift a finger to save the Stables market when it mattered, so they look like twits.”

BORIS Johnson has called for activist Silla Carron to be given a medal for her work on the Clarence Way estate in Camden Town.
After hearing how Ms Carron once threw a bucket of cold water over a cocaine addict at a children’s play area, Mr Johnson told her: “That’s very brave. Did you do that at midnight? What an amazing thing to do. Have you received a medal? It’s fantastic what someone like Silla can achieve – superhuman effort.”

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