Major snub for muddled Cameron over London Mayor...

David Cameron's desperate search for a Conservative candidate for London Mayor hit the buffers for the second time in as many weeks when former Prime Minister Sir John Major rejected an invitation by the Tory leader to stand.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Mr Cameron all-but invited Sir John to be the Tory candidate:

John Major would be an excellent candidate, I would be delighted if he put his name forward...I hadn't previously thought about it but I think he'd be a very good candidate.

Cameron, the fourth Tory Leader since Sir John Major said he still sees the former PM who 'organises some things for me, which is very helpful.'

But not apparently that helpful!

Sir John, retired as MP for our next door constituency of Huntingdon, swiftly snubbed Cameron's offer saying his political future was behind him.

It turns out that no-one had bothered to ask Sir John if he'd consider standing!

At least Sir John is a member of the Conservative Party (presumably).

Which is more can be said for Greg Dyke, former director general of the BBC, and the last person to whom Cameron offered Conservative endorsement to take on Labour's Ken Livingstone.

I found it astonishing that Cameron apparently wooed Dyke simply because he was well-known (with an over-inflated ego). The fact that Dyke has never signed up to Conservative beliefs speaks volumes about Cameron's desperation - and lack of principle.

So it is increasingly possible that Steve Norris may get a third crack at beating Ken Livingstone.

Shame. I was looking forward to the re-make of the famous 1992 election broadcast when John Major paraded through Brixton looking for his childhood haunts - but never actually getting out of his chauffeur-driven limo!