Jeremy Paxman today revealed he had been offered talks with David Cameron about becoming Tory contender for Mayor of London but said he would not take the job for “all the eclairs in Paris”.
The former Newsnight presenter said he had been approached about throwing his hat into the ring — an idea, he said, which “began life as a Boris Johnson joke”.
He admitted that he had given consideration to a mayoral bid but recently ruled it out. However, he won support today from former Conservative leader Lord Howard to go for the job.
Paxman, 64, who has previously described himself as a “one-nation Tory”, quit Newsnight in June. Today he dismissed reports that he may seek to run as the Conservative candidate for mayor as a “fantasy”.
He added: “It began life as a Boris Johnson joke. I was indeed approached about the gig and invited to see David Cameron to discuss the idea.
“I decided a week ago that I wouldn’t take it on for all the eclairs in Paris.”
Earlier Lord Howard, who as Home Secretary was famously grilled on Newsnight in a classic Paxman showdown, said it would be a “very good idea” if the broadcaster sought to succeed Mr Johnson.
“I would encourage him to run for it,” the peer told the Evening Standard.
Pressed whether a news show presenter would have the right skills to be the capital’s mayor, he added: “He is a man of many qualities.”
Lord Howard’s reception to the prospect of Paxman becoming the Tory mayoral candidate was far warmer than the one he received from the broadcaster in 1997.
During a tense exchange, Paxman asked the then Home Secretary 12 times about claims that he had previously “threatened to overrule” the director of prisons Derek Lewis over the possible sacking of a prison governor.
Lord Howard, 73, returned to appear on Newsnight when Paxman presented his final edition this summer.
The Conservatives are scrambling around for a high-profile mayoral contender as they face a tough battle to stop Labour winning back the top post.
Businessman Ivan Massow has put his name forward to be the Tory candidate. According to a senior source, the party’s headquarters had not approached Paxman regarding the job.
