2008年4月1日 星期二
Profile: Boris Johnson
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記者出身的英國倫敦市長當選人強森（Boris Johnson）向來口無遮攔，他自己也不否認，不過，這位被競選對手斥為「小丑、笑話」的名嘴，現在將治理擁有750萬人口的超級大都會。 43歲的強森畢業於伊頓公學與牛津大學，主修古典文學，是典型英國菁英階層，父親曾任歐洲議會議員，曾祖父曾在帝制土耳其擔任部長，1923年土耳其革命時遇害。 讓強森家喻戶曉的是他離經叛道的言行，這位一頭金色亂髮，即將在5日上任的保守黨人曾說：「我選上首相的可能性，與在火星上發現貓王、或轉世成橄欖樹的可能性差不多。」他年輕時的「志願」是當美國總統，聽來雖然可笑，但在紐約出生的強森直到最近都還是美國公民。 強森的名言多不勝數，例如他在2004年國會大選時說：「投票給保守黨，這會讓你老婆的胸部變大，增加你賺到BMW M3的機會。」還說過：「如果我老是拼命從嘴巴冒出快言快語，這是因為如果不這樣，我會爆炸。」他也因為失言曾向整座城市（利物浦）、甚至整個國家（巴布 亞紐幾內亞）道歉。 對於強森的表現，他的父親史丹利說，如果他兒子能應付拉丁文與希臘文，自然也有辦法應付任何事情，包括治理一座城市。 強森曾擔任著名右翼雜誌《旁觀者》（Spectator）的編輯。在此之前，他曾任每日電訊報駐歐盟記者。2001年強森獲選為英國國會議員，正式開啟從政生涯。 強森與保守黨黨魁卡麥隆（David Cameron）是在牛津大學就認識的老朋友，兩人都騎腳踏車到國會上班，不過卡麥隆幾乎像時鐘一樣準時7點一定到達辦公室，強森則要幾小時候後才會像陣風出現。 強森的工黨對手李文斯頓在選前攻擊強森說，選民們應該「投票給倫敦，而不是投票給笑話」。但強森以48.4%的得票率擊敗李文斯頓，這恐怕也大出卡麥隆意料之外。 英國泰晤士報評論說，強森把自己塑造得有如希臘式的英雄：充滿缺陷但才氣洋溢。現在，這位矢言打擊倫敦犯罪的放蕩奧德賽，必須把他的蓮花舌轉成實際行動。 （綜合外電） |
Johnson wins London mayoral race
Boris Johnson's victory speech
Boris Johnson has won the race to become the next mayor of London - ending Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign at City Hall.
The Conservative candidate won with 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966 on a record turnout of 45%.
Wikipedia article "Single transferable vote"He paid tribute to Mr Livingstone and appeared to offer him a possible role in his new administration.
Lib Dem Brian Paddick came third and the Greens' Sian Berry came fourth.
Mr Johnson is expected to stand down as MP for Henley, triggering a by-election.
'Exuberant nerve'
In his victory speech, he described Mr Livingstone as "a very considerable public servant".
He added: "You shaped the office of mayor. You gave it national prominence and when London was attacked on 7 July 2005 you spoke for London."
Mr Johnson also paid tribute to his "courage and the sheer exuberant nerve with which you stuck it to your enemies, especially in New Labour".
 | FIRST AND SECOND PREFERENCE VOTES Boris Johnson: 1,168,738 Ken Livingstone: 1,028,966  |
Mr Johnson told Mr Livingstone he hoped to "discover a way in which the mayoralty can continue to benefit from your transparent love of London".
He said he would work to earn the trust of those that had opposed him, or who had hesitated before voting for him.
"I will work flat out to repay and to justify your confidence. We have a new team ready to go into City Hall.
"Where there have been mistakes we will rectify them, where there are achievements we will build on them, where there are neglected opportunities we will seize on them."
Livingstone 'sorry'
He promised to focus on crime by promoting 24-hour policing, transport, including promoting cycling, green spaces, affordable homes and getting value for money for taxpayers.
Mr Johnson's victory crowns the Conservative Party's May Day local election wins in England and Wales.
He said he hoped it showed the party had changed "into a party that can be trusted after 30 years with the greatest, most cosmopolitan, multi-racial generous hearted city on earth".
| FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES Boris Johnson (Tory): 1,043,761 Ken Livingstone (Lab): 893,877 Brian Paddick (Lib Dem): 236,685 Sian Berry, (Green): 77,374 Richard Barnbrook (BNP): 69,710 Alan Craig, (Christian Choice): 39,249 Lindsey German (Left List): 16,796 Matt O'Connor, (Eng Democrats): 10,695 Winston McKenzie (Ind): 5,389 |
Mr Livingstone's defeat ends what Gordon Brown has called as a "bad" day for Labour in which it suffered its worst council results for 40 years.
Asked by the BBC what his views were on the poor Labour showing, Mr Johnson said: "The smart thing for Labour to do would be to quietly to remove Gordon Brown and install [Foreign Secretary David] Miliband, is my view, but I don't think they'll do it."
In his speech after the result was declared at City Hall, Mr Livingstone thanked the Labour Party for all its help with his campaign.
"There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own. You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't at third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory."
Conservative Party leader David Cameron praised Mr Johnson for a "serious and energetic campaign" and said his party was "winning the battle of ideas".
Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick paid tribute to Ken Livingstone as "an amazing mayor" and indicated that he would not be interested in working with Mr Johnson.
He said he would be talking to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg about his future and what he could do for the party.
Analysis: Boris's big win
| By Sean Curran Political correspondent, BBC News |
 Critics had questioned Mr Johnson's seriousness as a politician |
Crikey! Boris Johnson is London Mayor.
The Conservative MP and journalist now has the biggest personal mandate of any politician in the country.
Dismissed by political opponents and many in the media as little more than a music hall turn, he confounded his critics by running a gaffe-free election campaign.
This victory gives the Conservative Party a clean sweep: the largest share of the vote; the most councillors; and control of the capital.
Maverick
At first glance the mayoral contest is of little relevance to people living and working outside London but the political parties and the media have invested it with a national significance.
Does Boris Johnson's success mean the country is ready to embrace David Cameron's Conservative Party?
It also vindicates Mr Cameron's decision to back a maverick candidate.
The test now is for Boris Johnson to deliver his policies on the bread and butter issues of transport and crime.
During the campaign the tousle-haired Old Etonian was restrained and professional.
|  Mr Johnson is now the national and international face of London, one of the world's greatest cities. He will now face media and political scrutiny  |
There was little evidence of the flamboyant Wodehousian personality that has won him lucrative work as a newspaper columnist and a berth on television quiz shows.
Has the old Boris gone forever? What happens if he returns? And what will it mean for David Cameron and the Conservatives?
The Tory leader does not want to spend the two years in the run-up to the next general election having to defend, or distance himself from, the London Mayor.
Mr Johnson is now the national and international face of London, one of the world's greatest cities. He will now face media and political scrutiny.
As Londoners prepared to vote The Guardian newspaper published a series of articles urging people to reject Mr Johnson.
Similar articles appeared in other papers. The warning was clear: you may think you are voting for a charming Bertie Wooster**-like figure but in fact you are about to hand power to a less pleasant character.
This is moment to trot out what is perhaps the most famous journalistic cliché of all - only time will tell.
For now, though, Mr Johnson's win is a boost for the Conservatives that brings them one step closer to power.
** Jeeves/By Jeeves
《吉福斯》是 P.G. Wodehouse 著名的系列小说。书中的主角是迷迷糊糊英国绅士 Bertie Wooster 和他的聪明机灵、花样百出男仆 Jeeves(吉福斯)。几乎每一个故事都是由主人荒唐的行为转变成不可收拾的困境，但是最后总是由男仆出人意料的机智解决了。1975年，安德鲁·洛伊 ·韦伯 (Andrew Lloyd Webber) 和歌词作家 Alan Ayckbourn 把《吉 福斯》里其中一个故事编成音乐剧《吉福斯》。因为音乐剧十分失败，在1996年，该剧又被重新制作，取名 By Jeeves (《全靠吉福斯》)。可惜这一个版本，也一样没有受到太多好评，也是很快就从伦敦和百老汇的舞台上销声匿迹了。
《吉福斯》的故事由 Bertie Wooster 的班卓琴引起。Bertie 本来计划在教堂的舞台上表演班卓琴，但是临到表演，琴却被 Jeeves 藏起来，Bertie 以为琴丢了而一筹莫展。Jeeves 教他把他和伦敦上层社会小姐们的有始无终的罗曼史演绎出来，然后还可以请听众上台扮演 Bertie 的朋友们。Bertie 既是作者，作曲，导演还是道具师。一场即兴演出就这么开始了。《吉福斯》里滑稽的插科打诨、俏皮敏捷的文字游戏，巧妙富有创造性的舞台设计，以及十三首活 泼愉快的歌曲，都是在其他音乐剧里难得一见的。
原版《吉福斯》于1975年4月22日在英国女皇陛下剧院(Her Majesty's Theatre)公演。新版的《吉福斯》(就是上面提到的《全靠吉福斯》)于2001年10月28日在百老汇的 Helen Hayes 剧院公演，到12月30日结束，只演出了73场。
这两个网站都有关于《吉福斯》的消息，有兴趣的朋友可以去看看：
http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=13272
http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/byjeeves.htm
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