In explaining this move he asserted that his actions for boosting infrastructure and homes building across London had borne sufficient fruit to enable him to combine the two political roles and still leave a strong legacy. On infrastructure, he had seen through the building of Crossrail 1, planned Crossrail 2 and taken under his authority London Overground. And he has expressed his doubts about the cost effectiveness of the HS2 rail project.  On housing, he had taken over the budget run by the Homes and Communities Agency, and with Chancellor George Osborne had encouraged local authorities proposing to take “Housing Zones” through a faster planning process.  It was implied that these achievements would forge ahead with less need for advocacy from his office.  These changes in mood music set the scene for an interesting contest for the mayorship in 2016.  It is rumoured that Mayor Johnson is tempting Zac Goldsmith MP to stand for the Conservatives, while Dame Tessa Jowell MP is considering whether to stand in the Labour interest.

[The Times 8 August 2014 page 4]