Celebrities

Meet the New York billionaire who may want to replace Boris

Is he job hunting?

The billionaire former three-term mayor of New York is reported to be contemplating a go as Mayor of London, as the Conservatives consider a replacement for Boris Johnson next May.

What are his chances?

Friends of the business information billionaire say he is “considering” the transatlantic move in time to stand in 2016, as Boris prepares to vacate.

Who’s backing him?

The media mogul, who co-founded Bloomberg News in 1990, has the support of Steve Hilton, the influential Conservative strategist. “It would be an incredible coup for London if Mike Bloomberg could be persuaded to run for mayor here,” he said.

Accommodation is no problem: he owns a property on Kensington’s Cadogan Square. Bloomberg was also awarded an honorary knighthood last October for his “prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours” in the UK.

But he’s… an American

Candidates for the London mayoralty must be British or European citizens. However, foreign nationals can gain fast-track residency if they plough at least £2m into the UK. With Bloomberg’s £24bn wealth – and reports he has already invested £500m here – that is unlikely to be a problem.

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