Key quotes from the main players

'I WANT to make completely clear the police have made no approach to me to refer these allegations. We are seeing an attempt at a trial by the media, with the London Assembly not merely refusing to scrutinise but also preventing Lee Jasper answering these allegations even when he volunteers to do so, and a police investigation will put a stop to this disgraceful political charade.

The Evening Standard should immediately take any evidence it claims to have to the police or stop making these false allegations - in the good old phrase, put up or shut up.

In agreeing Lee's request I have also made the extremely difficult decision that, like any GLA officer subject to a police investigation, Lee Jasper will be suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation.

I believe this investigation will exonerate Lee Jasper and show this to be a shameful campaign. As the interests of London are best served by putting an end to this malignant political charade I have concluded that a full police investigation is the most authoritative way to end this story once and for all.'

WHAT LEE JASPER SAYS

'I AM being prevented from clearing my name, black organisations across London are being weakened by a systematic campaign in the Evening Standard from seeking funds, and a deliberate attempt is being made to divert attention from the real issues confronting London at the mayoral election.

This is being done deliberately and consciously - far from seeking clarity the Evening Standard for 10 weeks has been running stories of false allegations against me without taking alleged "evidence" to the police. Members of the London Assembly claim they wish to investigate "a tide of corruption" while in fact they have prevented me from testifying before it. They have refused my repeated offers to appear before them to explain my work and disprove these allegations and they are now refusing to hold any hearings until 5 March.

The deliberate aim of this delay is not to achieve clarity but to string out a series of unfounded and poisonous allegations in the media, and investigation by the police will clear my name and put a stop to this.'