Boris Johnson was met with a scrum of TV media as he arrived in Ruislip tonight to make one of the most important speeches of his career.
The London Mayor is currently speaking to local Tory party members at Ruislip High School, in the hopes of being chosen by them as the Conservative candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip at next year's general election.
Mr Johnson, who was accompanied by his wife Marina Wheeler, faces competition for the nomination from Hillingdon Council deputy leader David Simmons, barrista Suella Fernandes, and Windsor councillor Simon Dudley.
The seat is currently held by MP Sir John Randall, who is stepping down in 2015. He arrived tonight with his wife Kate looking, in the words of one observer, "whistful and sad".
BBC, Sky and ITV trucks and crews are all represented at the school - which is also famous as the building used for the TV comedy The Inbetweeners. Campaigners from Ruislip against HS2 also gathered outside in numbers, and there were also posters and yellow ribbons displayed outside in support of the missing Hanwell schoolgirl Alice Gross.
Pundits believe if Mr Johnson is able to secure the Uxbridge nomination this evening it could put him on track to re-enter Parliament and perhaps to succeed David Cameron as Tory party leader. However Hillingdon Council leader Ray Puddifoot has warned that, despite his high profile, Boris will not be a shoo in.
