General election: Boris Johnson secures return to Westminster

London mayor Boris Johnson will re-enter the House of Commons as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, after an assured 10,695-vote victory in the capital's westernmost constituency.

Historic support for the Conservative party, coupled with Mr Johnson's widespread public appeal - the so-called "Boris effect" - delivered a decisive win seen as a staging post in his bid for the party leadership.

Mr Johnson's team have in recent months been preparing the ground for his return to Westminster. Sir Eddie Lister, his chief of staff, has been lunching MPs in an effort to build a support base for the London mayor who has rarely returned to SW1 since swapping the House of Commons for City Hall in 2008.

The London mayor is the runaway favourite to replace Mr Cameron as Conservative party leader, consistently out polling rivals with the party membership: in the latest survey on the ConservativeHome website this month Mr Johnson polled 27 per cent against 17 per cent for nearest rival Theresa May.

Within the parliamentary party, Mr Johnson still lacks a wide following - but colleagues acknowledge his potency as an electoral asset after two terms as London mayor in a Labour-dominated city.

Yet despite this status as, in Mr Cameron's words - a Tory "star player" - the London mayor has mostly stayed on the subs bench during the election campaign.

His deployment has been treated with trepidation on both sides. For Lynton Crosby, the Conservative campaign chief, the prospect of Mr Cameron being upstaged by his would-be successor jarred with his attempt to run a presidential-style campaign.

"You don't want to build [Mr Johnson] up, but at the same time you've got to get him out because he is box office and a rock star," one Conservative figure said.

For his part, Mr Johnson has been content to stay slightly detached from the campaign. "He was never asked to take a leadership role, he has not been in the inner circle. It's their train set, not Boris's"

There have been divisions among top Tories about how best to use the mayor. Mr Crosby, who ran Mr Johnson's successful 2012 mayoral campaign before joining Mr Cameron's team, wanted Mr Johnson anchored in London. But Craig Oliver, head of communications, wanted him on the road, says one person familiar with the discussions.

"They were split," says the figure. "Oliver understands the media issue of him - how he makes the news. Crosby understands the value of him knocking on doors."

In Uxbridge and Ruislip, Mr Johnson will take over from Conservative MP John Randall, who has held the post since 1997.

Mr Johnson's mayoral term only ends next year and some constituents say their votes will not be vindicated unless he shows they take precedence over other career goals.

Jayne Gettens, who voted for Mr Johnson, said she is not sure he can juggle parliamentary duties, the mayorship and a possible run for leadership. "If I'm really honest I don't think he can do it, but we'll have to wait and see," she said.

"He is not going to put as much into it because he won't have the time to actually be here," said Labour-voter Trisha Reid.

Mr Johnson's allies estimate the mayor has gone on about 60 walkabouts during the campaign. But he has also travelled around the country, dropping in on four constituencies in the southwest, three seats in the northwest marginal belt and stopping at South Thanet, Oxford and Watford.

"He's popular and he gets coverage," observes one of Mr Johnson's supporters. "Even those who are not supportive lap it up when he comes to their constituency."

The Uxbridge and South Ruislip turnout supported this view, with 64 per cent voting compared with 61 per cent in 2010. Outside the count, a large group of enthusiastic, young supporters mobbed Mr Johnson when he attempted to leave the building for a break. "I'll be back, I'll be back," he told the cheering crowd.

While MPs recognise Mr Johnson's ability to galvanise support, many still doubt his suitability for the top job. His appearance on the BBC Andrew Marr Show last month was a campaign low point as he came off worse than Labour leader Ed Miliband over the non-dom tax status, shifting awkwardly on the sofa as Mr Miliband gently mocked him.

"He did feel bad about that afterwards," admits one friend. "He wasn't as good as he should have been, it needed to be better, but he's not going to let one interview define him."

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