Could London Mayor Boris Johnson Be Mayor and an MP at the Same Time?

It’s a deep philosophical question that has Brits wondering.

Though we generally stay out of British politics here at Anglotopia (unless a British person is writing about it) and are not supportive of any particular party, we quite admire of London’s colorful mayor, Boris Johnson.

Many politically inclined Anglophiles know that there has to be an British election this year and many are wondering that since Boris is quite popular, quite able and technically the most powerful Tory in the country right now – that he would throw his hat in the ring and stand for parliament again.

The question is – could he still be mayor of London?

Dave Hill at the Guardian pondered this very question and his conclusion was, yes there is nothing that could stop Boris from doing so.

From his blog post on the matter:

If Boris – or any future London Mayor – were to stand as an MP, would he have to resign as Mayor?

The answer is no. What’s more, he wouldn’t have to resign as Mayor even if he won the seat. The GLA tells me there is no legal or constitutional impediment to Boris subsequently becoming Mayor Johnson MP. There would be a financial penalty: a London mayor who becomes a member of either House of Parliament (or the European Parliament) loses two-thirds of his mayoral salary (see para 2.1). But given that the bulk of Boris’s steady income comes from the Daily Telegraph and (presumably) he’d receive an MP’s salary too, he’d probably scrape by.

And here’s another thought. If a Mayor can simultaneously be an MP, is there anything to prevent him or her also being a mayor and a minister? A mayor and a prime minister, even? You may laugh at the idea. I may laugh at it too. But Boris is the complete cake-and-eat-it man. I wonder if he’s laughing too.

Now, wouldn’t that be interesting?