Cripes! Boris is new universities spokesman
Boris Johnson, the magazine editor and TV personality, has been appointed the Conservatives' spokesman on universities.
Mr Johnson, who is the MP for Henley-on-Thames, will give up his job at the Spectator to become shadow higher education minister. After William Hague, it was his appointment to David Cameron's new shadow ministerial team that was most anticipated.
He is one of the most recognisable Tories, if not for his blonde shock of hair and eccentric manner then for his appearances on Have I Got News For You. However, at times he can be controversial, perhaps even gaffe-prone.
In his latest HIGNFY appearance he was asked directly if he had ever snorted cocaine – a question new leader David Cameron has repeatedly refused to answer. Boris replied that he had, "a long time ago", but that he was unsuccessful: he sneezed.
Under Michael Howard's leadership he was sent to Liverpool to apologise for an article that appeared in the Spectator accusing the city of "wallowing in victimhood" – even though he didn't write it and he was on holiday at the time. He was later sacked from his job as Tory arts spokesman after being accused of lying to Howard's office about an affair.
Last night Boris said: "This is a fantastic job and I am thrilled to be given the chance to do it. It is also a very hard job to do properly. It will mean a lot of time and thought."
In a reminder of the colourful language he often uses, he also thanked his colleagues at the Spectator: "For most of my time here I have been propelled by their talents, as a fat German tourist may be transported by superior alpinists to the summit of Everest."
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