'There's guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we are ready': Now Mayor Boris Johnson attacks Romney in rallying cry as Olympic festivities kick off in London



London Mayor Boris Johnson is latest British leader to jab at Mitt Romney over remarks as Olympic flame arrives in Hyde Park

Romney criticised whether Britain was fit to stage the summer games in U.S. interview



Prime Minister David Cameron hit back with claim that 'Britain can deliver'

Romney later went back on his remarks after meeting with Cameron, saying he believes the games will be 'highly successful'

Romney says he'll to put bust of Winston Churchill - which was given to President Bush and returned by Obama - back into White House



Awkwardly refers to Labour Leader Ed Miliband as 'Mr Leader' at Houses of Parliament

Romney ran 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City



Mitt Romney suffered yet another humiliation as he was jeered by thousands of Brits tonight after London's mayor publicly mocked the presidential hopeful's gaffe over the UK's ability to host the Olympics.

It capped a disastrous day in London for Romney after he kicked off his first foreign tour - as an entire city has appeared to turn against him.



Speaking in front of 60,000 assembled in Hyde Park at a concert to mark the end of the Olympic Torch relay, Mayor Boris Johnson used Romney's earlier remarks as a rallying cry.



He shouted to the crowd: 'There's guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we are ready. Are we ready? Yes we are!'

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Fiery remarks: Olympic torch bearer Tyler Rix stands with London Mayor Boris Johnson after lighting an Olympic cauldron on stage for the Olympic Torch Relay Finale Concert in Hyde Park

'Are we ready? Yes we are!': Boris Johnson issues his Olympics rallying cry as he speaks in front of 60,000 gathered in Hyde Park, central London, on the eve of the beginning of the 2012 Games

Revellers: About 60,000 people packed into London's Hyde Park for the Olympic Torch Relay Finale Concert



Having a sit-down: Romney talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, just one day after the presidential hopeful expressed doubts about London's ability to host the Olympics

In response, the raucous crowd erupted in thunderous applause.



It was the latest humiliating jab at Mitt Romney since the Republican began off his first foreign tour.

Earlier in the day, he was rebuked by UK Prime Minister David Cameron for questioning whether Britain will be able to stage the Olympic Games effectively.

Diplomatically, the two are off to an incredibly rocky start as Romney began his London trip to meet British leaders, hold fundraisers and attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.



If Romney can defeat Obama in November, he and Cameron would have brought strain to their 'special relationship' before it even begins.



Special relationship revisited? Romney met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair today during his visit and tour of London

Romney, who was in charge of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, caused an international stir during a Wednesday interview when he questioned London's ability to host the games, saying: 'It's hard to know just how well it will turn out.'

But on Thursday, after a morning of meetings with top British officials - including Prime Minister David Cameron - Romney made a complete about-face on his remarks, saying he believes the Olympics will be 'successful.'

That declaration came after Cameron challenged Romney and other critics during an appearance in Olympic Park, when he said: 'You're going to see beyond doubt that Britain can deliver.'

Cameron also took a jab at the presidential hopeful when he told The Daily Telegraph : 'We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic games in the middle of nowhere.'



You got served: Romney waves from his car as he leaves 10 Downing Street where he met with Prime Minister Cameron

It seems that Romney will say anything to get back into Britain's good graces - including an attempt to put 'Winston Churchill' back in the White House.

The Weekly Standard reported that Romney, speaking during a fundraiser in London, said that if elected president, he would return a bust of Churchill that was given to President George W. Bush in 2001 - and later returned by President Obama - back to the Oval Office.

The uproar against Romney began on Wednesday, when he told NBC's Brian Williams that 'disconcerting' events surrounding Olympics preparations mean 'it's hard to know just how well it will turn out.'

He continued: 'There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the - private security firm not having enough people the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging.



Personal tour: Mitt Romney checks out the Great Pavilion exhibit with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, right, at the British Foreign Ministry

Discussion on Downing: Romney walks out of 10 Downing Street to speak to reporters after his meeting with Prime Minister Cameron

'Because in the games, there are three parts that makes games successful. Number one, of course, are the athletes. That's what overwhelmingly the games are about. Number two are the volunteers.



'And they'll have great volunteers here. But number three are the people of the - of the country. Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that's something which we only find out once the games actually begin.'

But Romney began to distance himself from the comments after speaking with Labour Party boss Ed Miliband.

Following their encounter at the Houses of Parliament, Romney said: 'As the sporting events begin, we all forget the organisers and focus on the athletes.'

'ROMNEY IS A WAZZOCK': BRITISH PRESS TURN ON REPUBLICAN

The British media were quick to launch into Mitt Romney in the wake of his less-than-complimentary views on London's Olympics. The Daily Telegraph's Lucy Jones branded him a 'wazzock' (which the Urban Dictionary defines as an idiot or daft person') after the U.S. presidential hopeful questioned Britain's desire to host the Games. She said: 'Who does Mitt Romney think he is? I feel a glimmer of protectiveness and pride... there's one thing Romney could learn while he's in Britain this week: some manners.' Nicholas Watt, from The Guardian, tweeted of his U-turn: 'Mitt Romney rowing back like mad on Olympics: Now says outside No 10 games to be a great success.' Meanwhile, Paul Harris said: 'Good old Mitt. His charm offensive in the UK failed to be charming, but he really pulled off the offensive bit #gop #romney.' James Kirkup, also from The Daily Telegraph, drew attention to Prime Minister David Cameron's response to Romney's comments. 'Mr Romney made his name salvaging the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002, an achievement he may think qualifies him to comment on preparations for London 2012,' he said. 'In the context of Mr Romney's glittering resumé, one of Mr Cameron's (faintly defensive) comments bears particular attention: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. "

'Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic games in the middle of nowhere.' 'Some cynics thought that the "middle of nowhere" comment could just be a swipe at Salt Lake City, which is quite near the middle of, er, Utah. Terrible people, cynics.'

But it wasn't until after the sit-down with Cameron at 10 Downing Street, when Romney completed the 180-degree turn, declaring: 'I expect the games to be highly successful.'

The 2012 Olympics has been dogged with concerns ever since private security firm G4S said it would have to provide thousands fewer staff than they originally promised.

The British government has been forced to call in thousands of members of the armed forces - many of whom have just returned from Afghanistan - to plug the gaps.

There has also been problems with Border Agency staff threatening to go on strike during the Games, although such action was called off yesterday.

The following morning, however, he struck a more upbeat tone as he spoke at the Houses of Parliament with Miliband, whom he addressed awkwardly as 'Mr Leader.'

As Romney met with Miliband at Westminister, he was asked by the British media about Olympic security issues and the error over the North Korean team flag, in which the country's women's soccer team refused to take the field after a South Korean flag flashed on a screen next to a North Korean player.



Romney replied: 'It is impossible for absolutely no mistakes to occur. Of course there will be errors from time to time, but those are all overshadowed by the extraordinary demonstrations of courage, character and determination by the athletes.

Prime Minister David Cameron also called the incident an 'honest mistake.'



The former Massachusetts governor said: 'My experience with regards to the Olympics is it is impossible for absolutely no mistakes to occur.

'Of course there will be errors from time to time, but those are all overshadowed by the extraordinary demonstrations of courage, character and determination by the athletes.

'The games are, after all, about the athletes, the volunteers and the people of the community that come together to celebrate those athletes. They are not about the Organising Committee.

'And as soon as the sporting events begin, we all forget the organisers and focus on the athletes.'

In the NBC interview, Romney has been referring to the shortcomings of G4S, a private security company, which provided thousands fewer staff than were expected, leading the armed forces to step in to help, and a threatened strike by immigration officers that was called off at the eleventh hour.

Talking shop: GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney meets with British Labour Leader Ed Miliband during Romney's first foreign visit of his campaign

Romney also toured the Great Pavilion exhibit with Foreign Secretary William Hague before heading to Downing Street for a private meeting with Prime Minister Cameron.

DID HE MISTAKE HIM FOR KIM JONG-IL? ROMNEY CALLS LABOUR CHIEF 'MR LEADER'

In a cringe-worthy moment on just his second day in London, Mitt Romney committed his first transatlantic political faux pas. The gaffe occurred as he met with British opposition leader Ed Miliband as the Houses of Parliament when Romney awkwardly said:

'Like you, Mr Leader, I look forward to our conversation this morning.'

'Mr Leader' is not to be confused with the 'Dear Leader' moniker for North Korea's Kim Jong-Il. While Romney likely had only the best of intentions, 'Mr Miliband' would have been just fine for the Labour Party leader.

Romney is not the first - and certainly won’t be the last - to commit a blunder in the face of British leaders. President Barack Obama was left red-faced last year when he proposed a toast to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. But as Obama spoke, the orchestra began playing ‘God Save the Queen,’ and the president shunned Royal etiquette as he continued speaking over the music.

He also met with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and is later scheduled to sit down with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.



But it wasn't all about pleasantries.

Romney was the subject of a Twitter rant by veteran NBC News White House correspondent and political director Chuck Todd, who chided the candidate for taking questions from British reporters, but not their American counterparts.

Mr Todd tweeted: 'Can't believe Romney took questions from the British press corps but not from my colleagues traveling overseas with him. Bad form'.

In another post, Mr Todd said: 'Whether you love or hate us in the media; you should want your leaders to at least submit themselves to questions'.

Three hours later, after Romney took queries from U.S. journalists outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Todd tweeted: 'Glad to see Romney took a few questions just now from the traveling press corps.'

In addition, some controversy likely awaits for Romney tonight as he holds a fundraiser that's expected to draw employees of Barclays - the British bank that's wrapped in a global interest rate-fixing scheme.



Romney will also be holding fundraisers using the spirit of the Olympic season to put a spotlight on his time managing the 2002 Salt Lake City games.



Breaking bread with British officials is typically one of the first priorities of any new president, and establishing those relationships beforehand can help smooth the transition.

It's not unusual for American presidential candidates to meet with British leaders during the campaign; Obama did so when he took a trip abroad as the likely Democratic nominee in 2008.

Romney's week-long overseas trip will also take him to Israel and Poland.

Making friends: Romney shakes hands with British Prime Minister David Cameron during their meeting at 10 Downing Street

Photo op: Romney has a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during their meeting

At No. 10: Romney was also photographed outside of 10 Downing Street before a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron

Video: Mitt Romney backtracks of his criticism of the Olympics







