Running for Prime Minister? Boris Johnson to renounce his US citizenship

Boris Johnson has confirmed that he is to renounce his US citizenship, which was seen as an obstacle of him from running for Prime Minister.

17:02 16 February 2015

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who has dual nationality because he was born in New York, has confirmed his plans to renounce his US citizenship which could stop him from becoming a future Prime Minister.

He explained: "The reason I'm thinking I probably will want to make a change is that my commitment is, and always has been, to Britain.”

"It's an accident of birth that has left me with this thing. I've got to find a way of sorting it out."

Mr Johnson said that he will discuss the matter with US ambassador Matthew Barzun.

"It is a laborious business. They don't make it easy for you," he added.

Although dual nationality is not a ground for disqualification should he decide to run to become a Prime Minister, constitutional experts say that he may face scrutiny about his loyalties.

Meanwhile, aids reportedly claimed that the mayor’s priority is to avoid paying more taxes to US authorities after he was recently forced to settle a large capital gains tax bill.