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By News Editor Declan Wilkes
Mayor Boris Johnson is attempting to backtrack after describing David Cameron's talk of a broken British society as 'piffle.' There was shock at Conservative HQ as the London leader called the would-be prime minister out on his claims that Britain was broken. Backtrack begins This evening the Mayor was attempting to backtrack, saying he was not referring to the party leader but was "right" to draw attention to the issue. Far from a full retraction, the Tory man said in a statement: "David Cameron is right to highlight that serious and destructive social breakdown. "Politicians who pretend there is not a problem are complacent, and should recognise that there is a huge challenge if every teenager is to fulfill their potential as our athletes have managed this week." Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Justice Minister have weighed in saying the apparent rebuff has "exposed" Cameron, calling his claims as "cynical nonsense." The spat comes just before Johnson is about to fly off to China for the Olympic handover ceremony and at the end of a politically difficult week. His Deputy Mayor and chief Transport adviser Tim Parker quit City Hall yesterday, the second high profile departure from his inner circle.
Points to Olympic success Johnson was unrepentant defending young people, pointing to the success at the Olympics in China as proof that youths were not all 'aimless, feckless, and hopeless, addicted to their Playstations.' He recently reaffirmed his promise that London would not become a petri dish for Conservative policies. Party leader Cameron knows that success in governing London would greatly help his credibility to govern the country. The 'broken Britain' mantra has been echoed by The Sun newspaper, which like Cameron; want to 'mend' - by reforming the welfare state, ending discrimination against families in the tax system and cracking down on crime with a zero tolerance approach. Boris is Boris Cameron said in the London Mayoral election that Boris is Boris, and there would be times that they would disagree, and this was the feed coming out of the Conservative Party. Writing i the Daily Telegraph, Johnson said in full: "If you believe the politicians, we have a broken society, in which the courage and morals of young people have been sapped by welfaism and political correctness. And if you look at what is happening at the Olympics you can see what piffle that is."
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