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Mayor's aide Jasper quits
Pippa Crerar and Andrew Gilligan04.03.08
Ken Livingstone's key aide Lee Jasper dramatically quit his job this evening after damaging sexually charged e-mails he sent were revealed by the Evening Standard.
The Mayor's senior adviser stepped down after months of pressure over City Hall grants given to groups linked to him which had little or nothing to show in way of results.
In a statement tonight the mayor's spokesman said: "Lee Jasper, in the light of material published today, has tendered his resignation."
The final straw appeared to be a series of e-mails sent by Mr Jasper to Karen Chouhan, a married mother-of-three who is the company secretary of the 1990 Trust and director of the Black Londoners' Forum.
This afternoon City Hall said he had left his post - to which he was personally appointed by the Mayor.
The move means Mr Jasper will not turn up tomorrow to be quizzed by the London Assembly over the grants scandal.
Assembly members were due to hold a full hearing into how millions of pounds of City Hall and London Development Agency money were spent on a series of projects linked to Mr Jasper's friends.
A string are under investigation by Scotland Yard over allegations of fraud.
In one of Mr Jasper's messages to 50-year-old Mrs Chouhan, who he calls "darling", he wrote: "I love thee [sic] feet, ankles, legs, thighs, bum and belly, arms, head and brain. But most of all I love you in a flaming red sari, bangles, chains or failing that in a bikini!"
Days later the 1990 Trust was given £65,000 by City Hall. Mr Jasper did not declare his relationship with Mrs Chouhan or any interest in either organisation.
Earlier today Mr Jasper, 49, a married father of nine, and Mrs Chouhan denied any impropriety. She said the emails were "banter" and that they had not been sexually involved.
A separate document shows Mr Jasper recommended at least £100,000 be given to two organisations of which Mrs Chouhan was a board member.
They are among 13 organisations named by the Evening Standard as doing little or nothing of public benefit for their funding.
Click on the links below to read the original emails between Lee Jasper and Karen Chouhan
"Torrid and passionate embrace..."
"How many ways do I love thee?"
"I'm not bothered..."
"There is lots to talk about..."
Reader views (10)
Lee has consistently fought very hard on issues relating to race, from his historical legacy I am not surprised at his demise. He deserved every penny he has earned in his professional career. Even so, he has faced revolutionary suicide daily and pays the consequence. Right or wrong he provided a voice for his selected dispossessed.
I sincerely wished that Lee and his close allies were even handed with the established voluntary sector of the black community that previously existed before they ascended to power. If this was the case we would exist to rally support and Lee would find his redemption. No more crabs in the barrel, Londoners unite!
Vote for Ken!
- Ralston Roy, London
I'm very glad the Standard is bringing these things to light- well done. I don't think anyone is assured by Ken's "internal inquiry". There are simply too many questions.
Can we now also have a campaign to find out why so much taxpayers' money is being squandered on such PC-projects which are for the benefit of a very small minority? I'm sure most Londoners would prefer their money being pumped into improving schools and hospitals.
- Nick, london
How ironic that he is leaving, not for OUR missing money but for something that is politically incorrect.
Labour being the party of political correctness gone mad!
I will be enjoying this one all day!
- Jimbob, Kensington
No doubt he will resurface on a six-figure salary at another publicly funded outfit.
- Md, London
As a black woman I am appalled to see evidence of Lee Jaspers damaging behaviour. Lee, you have just made it that much harder for my two sons to gain credibility despite their brains; and have undone years of hard work by many black Londoners.
- Milly, London
As they said in Watergate, Just follow the money . . . .
- Hugo, London
How do these people get these jobs?
- David, Enfield
So if he resigns, presumably he doesn't get to be questioned by the Assembly?
Oh dear...
- Hedghog, London UK
Good riddance. It's just a shame that the emails were published before he faced the London Assembly. How Livingstone continues to defend this bunch is beyond me.
- Craig, Pinner, Middlesex
Having an affair doesn't make Lee guilty of being corrupt in office.
- Andre, London
