Boris Johnson’s risky move may outmanoeuvre rivals for UK top job

The London mayor is backing ‘Brexit’, and defying David Cameron, because he wants to be prime minister himself, say William James and Estelle Shirbon

WITH one hand in his suit pocket and the other mussing his signature blond hair, Boris Johnson took the riskiest gamble of his career: Opposing British prime minister David Cameron by campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union.

If the stars align for London’s eccentric mayor and the voters agree with him in a June 23 referendum, his bet could him win Cameron’s job. But if Britons vote to stay in, he may have blown his chance for good.