LONDON: London Mayor Boris Johnson was on Friday chosen by his Conservative Party as their candidate to fight for a west London seat at next year's parliamentary election, raising the spectre of a future tilt at becoming prime minister.
Johnson said he was "obviously thrilled" after seeing off the challenge of three rivals to win the backing of the Tories in the safe seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Johnson won on the first count following a behind-closed doors pitch at a local school hall, during which it is believed he addressed concerns over his plans to see out his mayoral term, which runs until 2016, while potentially serving in parliament.
"I would point out that it is possible to be both an MP and have a very big job such as foreign secretary or prime minister at the same time," he said after the result was announced.
Many see the 50-year-old, known for his unkempt shock of blond hair and frequent gaffes, as a potential successor to Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, given his high profile and popularity with grassroots party members.
The first step to this goal -- a return to parliament -- looks virtually assured, with the Conservatives having held the seat since 1970, but the mayor played down talk that he was a threat to former school companion Cameron.
"No, this is the first stage in the campaign to retain the seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip for the Conservatives and to get across the message of what the Conservatives have achieved not just in London but across the country as a whole in turning the economy around," he told reporters.
"And urging people not to throw it all away by allowing Ed Miliband and the Labour Party to get in.
"It will be a tough fight, it will be a long fight. But I have no doubt whatever that we are going to be able to return David Cameron and the Conservatives with an absolute majority in 2015.
"There's a lot of digging in to be done."
Shadow minister for London Sadiq Khan, of the opposition Labour party, responded: "The fact that Boris Johnson is so openly campaigning to replace David Cameron shows just how weak the Prime Minister has become.
"Rather than tackling the rising cost of living the Tories are turning in on themselves, jockeying for position in a future leadership contest."
Johnson revealed last month that he wanted to return to the House of Commons, where he sat as a lawmaker between 2001 and 2008.
As London mayor, his most high-profile success has been running the city during the 2012 Olympics.
While he has a high international profile, several other leading Conservatives are also seen as strong contenders to succeed Cameron should he step down.
These include finance minister George Osborne and Home Secretary Theresa May.
The Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat is currently held by Conservative lawmaker John Randall, but he announced in July that he would not be seeking re-election.
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