That’s the verdict of Guernseyman Will Walden, who was Mr Johnson’s director of communications for many years – and an assessment that comes as Guernsey and Jersey face a range of challenges both from the UK parliament and internationally.
But amid a crowded field of contenders, Mr Walden warned that Mr Johnson was not guaranteed to win the battle to succeed Theresa May as Conservative party leader and British prime minister.
The former mayor of London and foreign secretary has been seen as the frontrunner in the Tory leadership contest with a string of current and ex-cabinet ministers battling it out. Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Esther McVey, Dominic Raab and Andrea Leadsom are among those who want to succeed Mrs May, with a new prime minister potentially in place by the end of July.
But there has been speculation that a ‘Stop Boris’ campaign has been launched, and that it would only require a few Conservative MPs to depose Mr Johnson if he becomes prime minister and decided to push for a so-called ‘no deal Brexit’.
The UK is due to leave the European Union on 31 October, but a vote of confidence in a Johnson government could be called before that – and just a handful of Tory MPs siding with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn could end his premiership.
Mr Walden, who remains close to Mr Johnson, said: ‘He’ll need to win first, and that’s not as straightforward as the bookies would have you believe. But if he does, Boris’s immediate focus will be Brexit.
‘On domestic policy his model for governance when London Mayor is probably a pretty good guide to how he’d govern. He’s a low tax one nation Tory, pro market, pro fiscal devolution, regional growth, and infrastructure investment.’
Mr Walden, who is managing director of the public affairs practice at London PR giant Edelman, added: ‘I’ve no doubt if elected he’d be a good friend to the Channel Islands.’
