Boris backs Barack

London's Conservative mayor Boris Johnson has stepped over the line neither his party leader, David Cameron, nor the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, have dared to cross: he has gone against political protocol and endorsed Barack Obama for president. In an interview with Square Mile magazine, Johnson said: "John McCain has many, many wonderful qualities, but I think a Barack Obama victory would do fantastic things for the confidence and the feelings of black people around the world."

Asked whether his words constituted an endorsement for the Illinois senator, Johnson responded: "Yes." The remark breaks with the political convention that politicians should refrain from getting involved in other countries' general elections. It also breaks with another convention - that the Tories align themselves with the American Republicans rather than the Democrats, whatever they might think privately. Cameron duly praised McCain at a speech in Davos in January, praising his "courage and conviction" and stating: "I admire him a great deal." ·