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Boris Johnson loses another deputy mayor
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor19.08.08
Another of Boris Johnson's deputy mayors quit today.
Tim Parker stood down as chief of staff when Mr Johnson stripped him of his role of running Transport for London from next month.
Mr Parker is the second of Mr Johnson's deputies to leave since May and the third senior aide to go. Deputy mayor Ray Lewis was forced to stand down after wrongly claiming he was a magistrate and senior political strategist James McGrath quit over a race row. The appointment of Mr Parker, 52, one of the City's most successful private equity businessmen, was seen as a major coup for the new City Hall administration. He was brought in with a brief to restructure the Greater London Authority and was expected to do the same with TfL's £6.5 billion budget. But the Mayor said he was taking personal charge of TfL, which he said was "absolutely crucial" to doing his job effectively. He said the nature of the decisions TfL made were "too political" for an unelected aide to preside over.
It meant there was no role for Mr Parker, the man branded "The Prince of Darkness" for his ruthless cost-cutting in business, including such firms as the AA and Kwik-Fit.
Mr Johnson has appointed six deputy mayors with various responsibilities since his election but Mr Parker's title was First Deputy Mayor. The departure of City Hall's chief of staff after two months in the job will raise questions about Mr Johnson's judgment and represents a major policy U-turn.
Mr Johnson initially took the chair of the body, saying it was an interim measure - but today announced his change of mind. Ken Livingstone chaired TfL throughout his two terms as Mayor.
Mr Parker's departure will be felt keenly as he brought with him wide-ranging corporate experience and an eye for financial detail many feel Mr Johnson lacks.
Both men insisted the parting was amicable and said Mr Parker, who was paid a £1 nominal salary, would retain a seat on the TfL board and act as an unofficial adviser to the Mayor on transport and business issues.
Mr Johnson said: "Over the last few weeks it has become increasingly apparent to both of us that the nature of the decisions that need to be taken are highly political, and there is no substitute for me, as the directly elected Mayor, being in charge. There are limits, therefore, to what can be delegated."
Mr Parker said: "I have concluded that it would not be appropriate for an unelected official to chair a body which is responsible for most of the money and a large part of the brief of an elected Mayor. I also agree with the Mayor that my position as adviser does not justify my full time and exclusive commitment to the GLA or the title of First Deputy Mayor. We have therefore decided to adjust the management structure and abolish that post."
He told the Standard: "I'm obviously disappointed but also realistic. It's something I hadn't envisaged but I think it's the right thing to do." He denied the decision to let him go reflected badly on the Mayor. "We tend to make a big song and dance about these things in the public sector but in the private sector it's not unusual to change the organisational structure. It's better to do it sooner rather than later," he said.
Reader views (9)
To lose three senior advisers is carelessness to lose four is incompetence. Did Boris do ant advance planning at all?
- Arthur Dent, Hammersmith
Once again Boris is shown as the true character he is useless as an MP and now determined to undermine the true Londoner. When will sense prevail and lets hope its not very long before the Evening Standard has good news "Boris Dramatically Resigns"
- Paul, Beckenham,Kent
Roll on May 2012 when Londoners can make up for their horrific mistake and kick BoZo out!
- Roy, England
Point of fact - Ranger is just a TfL board member, Parker was the new Chairman. Ranger is really a political advisor rather than an executive (in fact it's hard to see where the division of responsibility lay between Parker, Ranger and Peter Hendy, who really does the day-to-day stuff). Now we get to see if Boris can run one of the world's largest transport organisations with no prior experience at all, while trying to keep a number of other plates in the air (such as chairing the MPA). Should be, er, fun?
- Tom, London
As long as Ken doesn't get back in I don't care what Boris does.
- Simon, Chiswick
I simply don't understand this story. Okay, so the TfL role is political and requires the Mayor. But Parker was also chief of staff. Why couldn't he stay in that post? Was it just not interesting enough for such a high-achieving manager on a pound a year? There's more to this story and The Standard hasn't got it yet. Can Pippa Crerar or somebody come on to explain please?
- Tommy Judd, London, UK
Why report on this boring nonsense - it's much more important that you bring us the key stories such as where the former mayor has gone on his holiday.
Bring back Gilligan.
- Peter, London
Mr. Johnson handed over the responsibility of TfL to Kulveer Ranger, so how is it that Boris seems to think he is in control of TfL? Seems to be that his right hand doesn't know what his left hand is doing! looks like were in for some troubled times if this is the case!
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
Tim Parker resigns - so that will save a pound now if only the greedy snouts would go!
- Beijingigolo Boris, England
