Tory Johnson looks on bright side despite sacking

Sacked British Tory vice-chairman Boris Johnson made light of his problems today after he was fired for lying about an affair.

The colourful politician played cat and mouse with the press by avoiding reporters and photographers waiting outside his house to go for an early morning run. When he returned, he advised them to follow his example.

“I advise you all very strongly, go for a run, get some exercise, and have a beautiful day,” he declared from the top of steps leading up to his front door.

Mr Johnson, who was also sacked as shadow arts minister over his affair with writer Petronella Wyatt, denied he had misled Tory leader Michael Howard.

Asked if he could save his marriage, he said: “I’m going to do whatever I can.”

Mr Johnson appeared at a side gate of his home in Highbury, north London, shortly after 7.30am, but on seeing the waiting press representatives he rapidly shut the gate again.

A few minutes later his wife Marina emerged and walked down the street, telling reporters: “I think you’ve missed him.”

Shortly afterwards, Mr Johnson was spotted further down the street.

Wearing a cream-coloured fleece and cream and white patterned shorts, and a bandana-style hat, he ran through the photographers taking his picture, with typical bluster, saying: “Mind out, mind out.”

Then he went up the steps, and was slightly delayed going in through the front door, which someone inside had locked. It was then that he answered the reporters’ shouted questions.

Finally, he was asked if he thought he had been unfairly treated, and he said: “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds.”

The Henley MP and editor of the Spectator magazine was sacked from the shadow cabinet on Saturday amid fresh revelations about his private life.

Last week, the father of four described claims of an affair with Miss Wyatt as a “pyramid of piffle”.