BORIS Johnson has been selected as the Conservative candidate to fight the safe seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the General Election.

Mr Johnson secured the nomination by beating rivals, senior local councillors David Simmonds, Simon Dudley and barrister Suella Fernandes.

He said he was 'honoured' and 'thrilled.' He is tipped to challenge David Cameron for the Tory leadership, if elected, and the Prime Minister loses the election.

Mr Johnson said: "It will be a tough fight, it'll be a long fight, but I've no doubt we will be able to return David Cameron and the Conservatives with an absolute majority."

The London Mayor attended the meeting with a warning from Ray Puddifoot, the leader of the local council, that he needed to prove at the meeting, at a local schook, he would be a good constituency MP.

Mr Puddifoot said: "He comes with an advantage over the others that he's done it before. He has been a Conservative MP and from all accounts a pretty good one. He certainly comes with a presence."

Ruislip and Northwood Tory MP Nick Hurd was the first to congratulate Mr Johnson on social media, describing him as his "new neighbour."

Uxbridge's current MP John Randall, who is stepping down, held the seat in 2010 with a majority of more than 11,000.