Minister slammed for housing remark

Mr Johnson accused trade and industry minister Margaret Hodge of getting her facts wrong by linking immigration to the housing shortage.

Speaking on BBC1's Question Time, he said: "The problem with that is that's the kind of language of the BNP, and it's grist to the mill of the BNP, particularly as there is no evidence that there's any problem in social housing caused by immigration, none whatsoever."

Mrs Hodge sparked a furore last week when she said social housing policy should be rebalanced to give more weight to length of residence, citizenship and national insurance contributions.

She said indigenous families had a "legitimate sense of entitlement" that their needs should override those of recent arrivals.

Mrs Hodge was criticised by Labour deputy leadership candidates Peter Hain and Jon Cruddas, who said housing should be allocated according to need.

Mr Cruddas - whose Dagenham constituency borders Mrs Hodge's Barking seat in east London - said she was taking attention away from the real problem of a shortage of affordable housing.

On Tuesday, London mayor Ken Livingstone weighed into the row, warning that her suggestions could be "catastrophic for community relations".

Mr Livingstone accused her of getting her facts wrong about London's housing shortage.