At the risk of sounding cynical, I suspect Boris wants to curry favour with what lefties call “the black community” at home. Because of a few politcally incorrect jokes, Boris was perceived as “racist” – he is, of course, nothing of the kind – and endorsing Obama is a costless way for him to prove he isn’t to those yet unconvinced. (Red Ken was the real racist, but Jew-hatred – sorry, “anti-Zionism” – doesn’t count.)

I think Boris is too scruffy to be called a fop. Charles Moore explains why here.