Boris rejects call for apology

He was asked to retract the comments at a hustings for mayoral comments organised by gay rights group Stonewall.

Activists also questioned him on his views schools should not be told to promote homosexuality.

The comments were made by the Tory candidate in a series of articles he wrote in 2000.

But despite calls to "apologise", Mr Johnson sidestepped the questioned.

He said: "My point is that I think it is not the job of the state to be interfering and prescribing this or that relationship and that is my view."