Boris Johnson seemed to suggest he was looking to extend his power over education in London at a press gallery lunch today, although he admitted that his thinking is "not very far in advance".
Asked what makes a good mayor, Boris told his audience: "You need to have some role in education."
"That is not something at the moment that the Mayor of London has but it's very difficult to have a general remit for delivering economic prosperity and improving the lives of everyone in the city unless there is a greater role for democratic representatives at a strategic level in delivering on education."
He continued: "That is what is keeping London back. It is the only thing keeping London back."
Catching Boris Johnson afterwards, I asked him whether his ambitions for education might translate into a stronger role in schools for the Mayor of London.
For example, do his plans include the idea of sponsored Mayor of London schools, perhaps through the free schools programme?
"Look, I don't want to grate that stuff," he replied. "I just think there's an issue to do with education… Our plans are not very far in advance."
But you are looking into it then?
"We are looking into it… I certainly don't want to have any grab for the boroughs."
But free schools will be an obvious fit?
"Well, we'll see… we'll see."
At the lunch, the Mayor of London also came into potential conflict with chancellor George Osborne over his stance on the Eurozone crisis.
"I think it's absolutely crazy at the moment deciding that the solution to the euro crisis is to intensify fiscal union and try to create an economic government of Europe," he said. "I can't think for the life of me how that is going to… there you go, that's a story…. I can't think for the life of me how that is going to work in the long term."
And on the reason for Liam Fox's resignation, Boris added: "I've read yards and yards about the Werritty business and I still don't understand it. I've given it up out of sheer exhaustion."
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