The Future of London within the UK

Contributor(s): Boris Johnson | The State Of The Union series has seen people from Alex Salmond to Martin McGuiness and Michael Heseltine discuss the future of the United Kingdom and one part within the greater whole. In this event Boris Johnson will discuss the role and future of London within the Union. Boris Johnson was born in June 1964 in New York. His family moved to London when he was five years old. He went to primary school in Camden and was subsequently educated at the European School in Brussels, Ashdown House and then at Eton College. He later read Classics at Balliol College. During his time at Oxford University he became president of the prestigious Oxford Union. After graduating he moved back to London. He joined The Daily Telegraph in 1987 as leader and feature writer. From 1989 to 1994 he was the Telegraph's European Community correspondent and from 1994 to 1999 he served as assistant editor. His association with The Spectator began as political columnist in 1994. In 1999 he became editor of the paper and stayed in this role until December 2005. In 2001 he was elected MP for Henley on Thames. In July 2007, Boris Johnson resigned from his position as shadow education secretary so that he would be free to stand as Conservative candidate for Mayor of London. He resigned as MP for Henley shortly after becoming Mayor of London.