Tory sparks anger with 'poor' jokes

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The Tory Assembly member told an audience in his constituency of Ealing and Hillingdon that he was "extremely proud" to have been appointed Boris Johnson's statutory number two.

However, he then added: "It's nice to be here tonight to see how you poor people live ... because we sit up so high now, we are above everything."

His comments prompted disdain from opposition members at City Hall.

Green Assembly member Jenny Jones said: "It seems obvious that he was making a joke but ... looking remote is the fastest way for politicians to find themselves out of a job."

Mr Barnes's own colleagues were privately frustrated about his "stupid" remarks. "It's not exactly the message we want to send out," one said.

It is not the first time Mr Barnes has provoked criticism from his own side.

During the election campaign he said Mr Johnson planned to scrap neighbourhood policing in the outer boroughs, which the Mayor was forced to deny.