I was amongst a group of people to have a meeting with Boris when he was shadow-secretary of state for Higher Education. I can report that his bumbling-idiot-ness is not just put on for the cameras - he is actually like that in real life.
He came across as a very intelligent man with a strong understanding of the issues in Higher Ed. He was very polite and took an interest in what we have to say... however he did stop us mid-conversation to discuss whether scones are nicer with or without cream.
"Once Mr Johnson had reached the top of the riverbank and dried himself off the Project Co-ordinator announced he was satisfied his staff had now freed the river of pondlife."