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A senior adviser to the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, is under GLA investigation after at least £2.5 million in City Hall money was channelled to organisations controlled by himself, his friends and his business associates.
Lee Jasper, the Mayor's director of equalities and policing, is at the centre of a network of companies which have received large sums of public money from Mr Livingstone while appearing to do little or no work in return.
An Evening Standard investigation has found:
• Hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money paid to the companies is unaccounted for or has disappeared.
• Up to £295,000 is the subject of possible legal action.
• Some of the companies are dormant or have gone out of business.
• Several of the organisations are based in the same small room at a business centre in Kennington.
• The same people, friends or business associates of Mr Jasper - including race activist Errol Walters and businesswoman and reality TV show star Yvonne Thompson - appear as directors or staff members of each organisation.
Mr Jasper, 49, is one of seven policy directors - the London equivalents of civil service permanent secretaries - who work at the Mayor's side developing and implementing policy at the highest level. Mr Jasper has worked for the Mayor since Mr Livingstone was first elected seven years ago, reporting directly to him and earning more than £111,000 a year. They have been longstanding political friends and allies for many years.
The officials have considerable influence over grants, some paid directly by the Mayor's office and others by Mr Livingstone's wholly controlled economic development body, the London Development Agency.
One grant recipient, Diversity International, controlled by a long-standing friend and business associate of Mr Jasper, Joel O'Loughlin, received £295,000 in LDA funding for the Diversity Dividend, a web-based tool for London business, even though the business consultancy has no expertise in computers and is based in Liverpool.
The website does not exist, the company has now gone into liquidation and all the money paid to it has vanished. The liquidator, David Hole, told the Standard that the LDA was seeking the return of "substantial" sums from Diversity International and official liquidation documents at Companies House say he is considering taking legal action against Mr O'Loughlin for "trading offences".
Mr O'Loughlin ran a company with Mr Jasper, is currently a director of the campaigning body 1990 Trust, to which Mr Jasper is closely connected, and is described by Mr Jasper as someone he has "known for years and years".
Mr O'Loughlin failed to return repeated emails and telephone calls from the Standard. The LDA refused to respond to any of our questions about Diversity International, despite being given nearly a week to do so.
Another project, Brixton Base, whose patron is Mr Jasper and whose director is Errol Walters, another friend, has received £287,000 from the LDA over the past two years for "premises" - even though it has occupied an LDA-owned building throughout that time and was charged no rent in the first year, according to mayoral answers to the London Assembly. The GLA inquiry is into Mr Jasper's role in funding this company.
The LDA paid at least a further £230,000 to Brixton Base to equip it as a "creative training hub" for the black community, with a film studio, and to run three short creative training projects.
However, the director of one of those projects, the film-maker Shango B'Song of ITS Cine, told the Standard that he in fact financed the studio and nearly all the spending on the project out of his own pocket - and saw only £8,000 of the LDA grant given to pay for it.
"From the very beginning of the course, Brixton Base's attitude towards our staff and students was unprofessional, dishonest, abusive and sometimes threatening," said Mr B'Song. One of the directors of Brixton Base, not Mr Walters, "reminded me on numerous occasions that [if I complained] they had 'some gangster friends who would break me up'".
Two sources said that a member of Brixton Base staff, not Mr Walters, had threatened the LDA that its offices would be destroyed by gangs if it refused to renew the organisation's funding. The LDA refused to deny receiving such a threat.
In a letter to the LDA, dated 20 October 2006 and obtained by the Standard, nine of the students on the ITS Cine course complained of "attempted intimidation" by Brixton Base staff - who, they said, also lied to funders and potential funders in their presence that Brixton Base had paid for the studio facilities.
Mr B'Song also complained to the LDA, but told the Standard: "Literally as I was leaving the LDA building after the meeting my phone rang. It was Errol. He said he knew where I'd just been and it was no use complaining to the LDA because he had his people on the inside."
The LDA took no action on either complaint but instead paid a further £390,000 to Brixton Base. The Standard has been leaked a series of emails between Mr Jasper and senior staff of the LDA which lay bare Mr Jasper's key role in protecting the project. In June last year, even before Mr B'Song's and his students' complaints had been received, LDA officials had severe doubts about Brixton Base and wanted to evict the organisation from its building.
However, in an email seen by the Standard, Mr Jasper ordered the LDA's senior director, Tony Winterbottom, to "ensure that this action [the eviction] is withdrawn immediately and ensure I am consulted on all major decisions affecting [Brixton Base]". We have also seen emails which show Mr Jasper's close involvement in the project's funding applications.
Despite receiving at least £535,000 to date in LDA grants, Brixton Base's website remains "under construction" and repeated phone calls by the Standard to its listed number over a period of several weeks were never answered.
Mr Walters is also acting director of the Black Londoners Forum, based in the same building as Brixton Base, which has received at least a further £291,000 directly from the Mayor. The Standard has seen the official funding agreement for £53,000 of this money which imposes extraordinarily few obligations on the Black Londoners Forum in return for its grant.
The agreement says that in return for the BLF's money all the campaigning it has to do is "support an online petition" against attacks on asylum seekers. This currently contains 97 signatures.
The BLF's real function appears to be to offer enthusiastic support for the Mayor. Its website republishes mayoral press releases word-for-word as its own and it responds to mayoral consultations with glowing praise of his policies. This is then cited by Mr Livingstone as "evidence" that his policies are supported by the black community.
Mr Walters failed to respond to repeated telephone messages, texts and emailed questions sent to him by the Standard. The LDA and the Mayor's office refused to answer any of our questions about Brixton Base and the BLF, despite being given them almost a week ago. Nor would they deny any of the allegations made by Mr B'Song and his students.
One figure in the GLA Brixton Base probe - although not currently under investigation herself - is Yvonne Thompson, a friend of Mr Jasper who accompanied him on a trip to New York at the LDA's expense.
The Standard has established that two organisations controlled by Ms Thompson have received, or are due to receive, a total of more than £1 million in funding from the LDA. In an apparent conflict of interest, Ms Thompson was a member of the LDA board at the time the grants were approved.
She also chaired the LDA's equality monitoring and review group, on which Mr Jasper is an observer and Errol Walters a "specialist adviser". Ms Thompson insisted last night that she did not sit on any LDA panels which decided funding.
One of Ms Thompson's companies, the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners, received at least £25,000 from the LDA. However, according to the annual accounts, signed by Ms Thompson as director and on file at Companies House, the EFBWBO has throughout its entire existence been "dormant", receiving no income from anyone, let alone the LDA. Ms Thompson said that the LDA's £25,000 went to a different organisation and denied receiving any personal benefit.
Ms Thompson is also the president of the African Caribbean Business Network, a non-profit charitable company which describes itself as "spearheaded" by Mr Jasper but which appears to do relatively little to deserve an LDA grant totalling £990,000 between 2001 and this financial year. In 2005-6, the year of the latest available accounts, the ACBN claimed to have 2,500 members, but the income from membership subscriptions in the accounts suggests that it may actually have had as few as four paid-up members.
In the entire three years 2003-6 - during which time it received £535,000 from the LDA - the ACBN spent just £75,000 on "activities in furtherance of the charity's objectives", spending nothing at all in 2005-6. The LDA, its sole funder, was clearly unhappy: that year's ACBN accounts speak of "limited assurances that the ACBN would secure funding for the future".
However, despite LDA officials' concerns, Ms Thompson managed to win a new deal guaranteeing a further £200,000 payment in each of the following two years.
In April this year, more than a year before the scheduled expiry of her term, Ms Thompson left the LDA board. The LDA refused to say why this occurred. Ms Thompson told us she left because "the LDA's priorities had changed".
Afua Yeboah, a spokeswoman for the ACBN, told the Standard to direct questions about the ACBN's effectiveness to the LDA. She said that subscription income was not an accurate indicator of ACBN membership, claimed the ACBN had delivered 23 events this year and denied that Mr Jasper had any "formal" involvement with the funding of the ACBN.
Ms Yeboah's denials of Mr Jasper's involvement were undermined, however, when Mr Jasper accidentally copied the Standard into an email exchange with her, revealing that he supervised ACBN's response to all our questions.
In one of the emails, sent at 8.46pm yesterday, Mr Jasper orders Ms Yeboah to "now prepare your letter of complaint" to the Standard before our article was even published.
Another associate of Mr Jasper's, Simeon Grossett, described on the ACBN website as "Mr Networker", is a director of the Black Londoners Forum, a co-director of the ACBN and also has his own company, BEM Community Enterprise, which also appears, from its latest accounts, to have received substantial LDA funding, though the LDA refused to confirm this.
The Standard has discovered that the "statement of activities" shown in BEM's accounts to justify its funding is precisely the same words every single year, simply cut and pasted from one year to the next. BEM's claimed office and "training centre" turns out to be a firm of Brixton solicitors, which told us it merely acted as a forwarding address.
Despite being given since last Thursday to respond to our findings, the LDA has refused to answer any of our questions about any of the organisations it funded. Among the questions it declined to answer was how the funding decisions were made, what benefits, if any, the organisations had delivered for the black community and what Mr Jasper's role was in each case.
The Mayor's office refused to answer any of our questions either, although it has had them since Friday, or to discuss the GLA inquiry, instead accusing the Standard of conducting a "campaign targeting black and ethnic minority organisations".
Mr Jasper insisted last night that he did "not get involved" in grant funding decisions, something which at least one of the leaked emails seems to cast doubt on. "I don't take a day-to-day overview of what's happening at Brixton Base," he said. "I'm just the patron, the champion." He sidestepped questions about his relationship with Errol Walters and said any problems at Brixton Base had been "minor matters".
The Standard has learned that the current GLA inquiry, conducted by the authority's chief executive, Anthony Mayer, is the second into Mr Jasper's involvement in Brixton Base within the past six months. The first one cleared Mr Jasper, but was condemned as inadequate and insufficiently probing. In a letter dated 30 October, Mr Mayer says he will have the matter investigated again.
One member of the LDA board, Eric Ollerenshaw, last night described the Standard's findings as "incredible" and said: "We may have to seek the views of the Audit Commission. There's going to have to be an immediate and proper investigation into these allegations [about all the companies], because it calls into question our whole monitoring procedures."
The London Assembly member Richard Barnes last night called for Mr Jasper to be suspended and said: "If the Mayor doesn't take action, he is condoning what went on."
Reader views (48)
The evidence reported in this article and last night's Dispatches is so vast and detailed it can't have just been made up. It's time for Ken to go...
- Al Ferrari, London, UK, 22/01/2008 12:11
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I feel ashamed I voted for Red Ken (now Crim's Ken?) after being a Labour supporter for 30 years. Thank you Mr Gilligan for bringing this into the open!
- Alex Mitchell, London UK, 10/01/2008 13:25
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Aren't we innocent until proven guilty in this country? What relevance does highlighting Lee Jasper's personal home details have? So he lives in social housing and earns a great salary! The man is a well respected father. Respect to you Mr Jasper!
- Derek J, Birmingham, 07/12/2007 16:58
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If this is true - and the article is very convincing - it is a disgrace. Lee Jasper and the charities and businesses involved must be properly investigated. However unlike many repondents, I hope that Ken himself is not involved. He has done a huge amount for London - the congestion charge has reduced traffic and improved air quality, the buses are hugely improved, culture and business are thriving. Our diversity and tolerance owe a lot to him.
Whatever happens, don't vote for Boris. Not only is he a clown but he has shown no sign he loves London. Ken, with all his many faults, does.
- Jenny, Battersea, 07/12/2007 16:40
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In order to get to the bottom of this saga, let police/audit people in and sort it out once and for all. If this is a load of rubbish the proof will be in the evidence of account books etc. In light of what is going on in the Govt - discs missing, dodgy donors etc, there is no time for speculation and pointless banter. Well done for bringing the alledged problem to light Mr Gilligan but what happens now? This issue needs to be sorted. Innocent until proven guilty! If they did theif the money - then unfortunately it proves yet again that money management is a problem in certain communities. I call for the truth to come out, i.e. from the horses mouths. If not, we have to put up and shut up as we have no proof!
- Nic, London, 07/12/2007 16:16
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As with all public sector funding organisations there are extremely tight governance rules to precisely ensure that fraud does not happen. The trouble is with London that they just cannot appreciate how complex it can be to achieve the improvements necessary in order that London can stay at the forefront of global economies and maintain its place as a global city.
The naivity of responses is astonishing considering just how much information is in the public domain. Many of the respondents so far seem very bitter and twisted yet they do not stop to look at the great work that is actually being done. Indeed many respondents appear jealous of funding allocations - they should realise that strict competitive processes are in place to ensure funding only goes to those that are capable of delivering.
- Jr, Romford, 07/12/2007 14:49
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Rather than rename several tube stations, Livingstone should consider renaming City Hall. I suggest "Tammany Hall".
- Tony Vesely, Isleworth, Middx, 07/12/2007 10:40
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Lee Jasper, has soiled his credentials as a spokesman for the BME community. Whilst legitimate Black voluntary organisations have been struggling to deliver responsive activities to tackle social exclusion and discrimination within mainstream service provision, he and his cronies have been channelling off funds in our name.
His rhetoric about how the "mental health system criminalises our community instead of caring for it" rings hollow in the light of these accusations as it stereotypes what black men do as soon as we get into positions to address social injustice. If he wants to address these accusations, both he and the LDA need to get their stories straight and let the Audit Commission in.
Too many smaller organisations, like the Fanon Resource Centre in Brixton which supports people from the African and Caribbean community with Mental Health needs develop self help and independent living skills, face LA cuts and tendering inequalities at every turn. Lee Jaspers pet projects merely have to give the right soundbites and have PC names in order to qualify for funds without having to justify their existence every three months meeting KPIs based on other people's targets.
He needs to be doing his job: supporting projects that develop evidence about the needs of BME communities and developing better approaches for engaging these needs.
- Ras Pinda, Thornton Heath, Surrey, 06/12/2007 23:57
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I have to say that, given the precision and detail in the Evening Standard article, it is rather weak to cry that it is a baseless "racist" / politically-motivated attack. Such a cry hardly explains hundreds of thousands of pounds poured into dormant companies, for example. If I were a member of the black community I would feel outraged that this misappropriation were being carried out in my name, by people paid to represent me. If the allegations are baseless, I look forward to seeing libel action...don't I?
- Sally, Hertfordshire, England, 06/12/2007 19:41
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It's time to get the Police involved in a fraud investigation. This will be the only way of removing Ken and Pals influence from any investigation.
- Ian Wilson, London, 06/12/2007 19:18
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Well done for the great article Mr Gilligan!
The LDA are about to commit another travesty with the re location of the KICC church.
It stood, with no planning permission, on land earmarked for the Olympics, so the LDA have apparently paid the church loads of money to move.
Now they have offered them a home in Rainham on land bought with public money, bought by the LDA under the promise of using it to create loads of jobs and regeneration for the area.
The church will generate no income for the council and no jobs for Londoners. So why did the public fund their land purchase exactly?
And why did the public pay them so much for land they shouldn't have been on in the first place?
- Liz, Rainham, London, 06/12/2007 16:33
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Well Done Ken! How many other cases are there waiting to be unearthed apart from this one? I would put my life on there being others.
Livingstone has to be pulled up about this and not be made to look like the Teflon Don once again by nothing bad sticking to his reputation.
He has got away with so much for far too long and has been dining out on bringing the 2012 Olympics to London - when in fact it was Seb Coe who brought that about!
I don't know if Trevor Philips has ever thrown his hat into the Mayor of London ring, but I think he would be a brilliant Mayor.
He would bring a lot more equility amongst all of London's nationalities then old Ken.
At this rate Boris is going to sail it?
- Mark Coster, Romford, 06/12/2007 13:13
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Ken has had two terms in office now, and I think that is more than enough by these recent revelations.
All politicians ever do when they are re-elected to govern is abuse the powers they have been given.
Where exactly is Londoners' money going too, who is benefitting from the mayor's loose hold on our hard earned cash?
- Sav, West Norwood, 06/12/2007 12:46
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I can't understand why Londoners keep letting Ken get away with this. He did it in the 80's with the GLC. How stupid are we. His office have now accused the Standard of conducting a "campaign targeting black and ethnic minority organisations". Well, yes they are! They are fighting for the fact that all these grants have been given to help the Black and Asian community and guess what? Very little or none of that has filtered through. If anything the Standard are campaigning FOR their community to get the support they deserve and need. I'm livid that the GLA have not even had the decency to answer or justify reasonable questions in this report. Vote Ken and his cronies out then watch the black community receive the funding it deserves!
- Rob, London, England, 06/12/2007 12:45
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Let's hope that this sordid saga manages to bring down Ken Livingston and exposes the outrageous waste of our money that he has presided over, never brought to account by the apparently toothless GLA and its sycophantic Labour majority. Remember 74% of Londoners didn't vote for him at the last election. 74% said NO.
- Matt, London, 06/12/2007 11:42
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It is funny how if you get really involved with groups supporting them and wanting to do good for the black community you are labelled a criminal etc What do you lot prefer officers that sit in offices all day, shuffle paper and are scared to meet the public and make policies on what grounds? He who feels it knows it...
- Campbell, Brixton, England, 06/12/2007 11:19
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I am black and thought Lee was for once paving the way for real integration and development for the black people in Britain, i.e the youths in the very areas where the said/claimed transactions have taken place, most importantly at the expense of the public funds. Oh! No, we black people don't learn to help ourselves, we like to do the talk, but not to walk the walk, we preach, but do not listen to ourselves, we like to get aide from others! Deal with this lot severely.
- Celestine, Romford, UK, 06/12/2007 10:56
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Socialists spend all their time being obsessed with other people's money. These guys are just being true to their principles. The people who vote for them are ultimately responsible. The trouble is it's the people who didn't vote for them that are being fleeced. Well done for exposing this racket, and thanks.
- Jonathan Dickson, UK, 06/12/2007 09:02
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Rotten to the core....this is nothing, if you look deeper you will see the extent of their maglomania and the people who have suffered for standing up to them. Never thought I would see the day when Ken and Lee got found out, but is likely they will get away with it, they always do. Not the best role model for anyone, unless you are their 'friends'. Being black has nothing to do with it.
- Levern, London, 06/12/2007 09:02
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Livingstone has a habit of appointing troubleshooters who cause lots of trouble and do very little shooting. It was only recently that Bob Kiley was found to be paid millions for doing nothing and now we have Lee Jasper.
This is public money, my money, that has been wasted. If I don't pay my council tax, which includes at least £400 for the GLA, then I get threatened with court action.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 06/12/2007 08:24
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An excellent in - depth bit of investigative journalism by Gilligan only surpassed by the arrogance and waste, not to mention the probable dishonesty involved of the squandered £2.5m. Surely those who finance City Hall deserve answers instead of the stonewalling reported. Standby Boris!
- Mickf, Maidstone, UK, 06/12/2007 06:51
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Innuendo is easy but did the LDA follow correct procedure in giving out the money? Was the money given without an application form and without a panel approving it? If correct processes were followed, what is all the fuss about? What is the LDA's budget and how much of it went to Asian, Jewish, Irish, White organisations? How much went to fund Domestic Violence work?
The Black Voluntary Sector is underfunded and struggles to get resources, if some have managed to access funds, I welcome it. Have they been monitored and did they deliver the project?
I have seen no evidence of dishonesty and the GLA elections will probably show that some of us at least appreciate what Ken and the GLA have delivered for London. Free travel for under 16s, discounted travel for those on income support and the 2012 Olympics to name a few things.
- Abena Asante, London, 06/12/2007 00:27
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With reference to Pav Zaildar. Pav, I suggest you read the article again and underline the points were it reinforces the "dangerous stereotypes" that you claim.
The article does nothing of the sort. It refers to those who are taking the money but not giving it to those who are supposed to benefit.
This has nothing to do (or so it would seem) with the kids on the street.
- Dt, Harrow, UK, 05/12/2007 23:06
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ref: Pav
Lee Jasper has been a dark thorn in the side of the black community for years. Do NOT confuse him and his organisations/businesses with the real grassroots community. The same community and organisation that he works hard to undermine. Whilst funding has apparently been going to his friends and buddies all over the place, we have been suffering from under resourced projects and unable to sustain the projects that really do work. For every black peroson who says something good about Jasper and co, I can think of 10 who have something bad to say. He has done nothing for us given his high status so I say good riddance. I hope he goes down with his GLA funded ship. Oh, and finally, don't think we don't see how this can smear the entire community and our organisations, most of which have nothing to do with the GLA and corruption. Anything that paints the black community in a dark light will appeal to these people - I will watch interestingly as this story unfolds and how this becames less about Jasper and Walters and more about the 'black community' as if we support this man's behaviour. We've been criticising the man for decades, this is only news for you now because of the mayoral election.
- Sharon Hopkins, Lewisham, 05/12/2007 22:48
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I suggest s/he might want to look at Transparency International's website. Year after year the UK and many other (mostly northern) European countries rank very highly out of the 133 nations of the World listed in terms of low levels of corruption. S/he might then want to contrast this with the ranking of Carribean countries which are all far down the list.
- Alan J, London, UK, 05/12/2007 21:48
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I am sick to death of Ken Livingstone, Leo Jasper and his mates.
I remember not so long ago on the TV Leo Jasper banging on about 'black power'. Why does he get away with it?
When Ken was head of the GLC just before its demise by Mrs T. he spent all the remaininmg money on a big party. As a musician I and my percussionist friend asked to be booked. We were told by Ken's man 'you are the wrong colour'!
Livingstone has spent taxpayers' money recently(without their approval) on jollies to India.
- Clem Laford, London, 05/12/2007 21:37
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Thank you the Evening Standard for exposing this interesting case! I am most glad that some people have braved the murky waters of London's race equality industry to bring this shameful case. I have nothing against Mr. Lee Jasper, but I am deeply saddened that there are many lazy Black British people who trade on race mongering! My only dislike for Mayor Livingstone is his habitual wastage of public funds for dubious Black and Ethnic minority events.
Maybe Mr. Ken thinks it makes him more popular among ethnic minorities for wasting public funds on dubious programmes and projects, but I know as an enlightened black man that he is doing us more harm than good. His overzealousness about demonstrating his broadmindedness is directly responsible for the proliferation of dubious blacks and ethnic minorities’ events which have resulted in the allegations. It often sounds as if ethnic minorities were being persecuted in Britain before Mr. Ken became the Mayor of London!
- John Iteshi, London, 05/12/2007 21:07
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When can we see arrests?
- Paul, Bromley, 05/12/2007 19:07
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Typical that the only response given was that the Standard were picking on minority groups. How lazy is that? It just makes me wince even more when I look at the amount of money Ken and his cronies get from my council tax.
- Mark, London, UK, 05/12/2007 18:41
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They are both supposed to represent BME businesses but don't actually do anything. It's disgusting and they ought to be ashamed of themself. Yet another black mark against our community thanks to wannabe businesswoman without a business and wannabe politician.
- Lorrain Kelly, London, 05/12/2007 18:37
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Whether this all went on or not, the discourse underlying this dispute is one of jealousy around black people's success, something which many for decades have found threatening, we should wonder why.
- Eve, London, 05/12/2007 18:14
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Not surprised in any manner. Just have a look at the Blair years.
Corruption at almost every single level of the government and police. Lack of professionalism in carrying out their ego massive projects. The Olympics scandals will come to light before the medals. Bogus projects, and real finances, cover up stories. It is easy to escape charges when the one at the top are immune of prosecution by their pals.
I agree with Graham, it is time to wake-up.
When one works for a company or organisation, it is their duties to report all these issues. Unfortunately there isn't any organisation to report to, as the Serious Fraud Office is a governmental organisation protecting the interest of our country, or so they told us.
This country population is up for some bad time ahead.
It is a sign things are going wrong when the government in place isn't even elected?
Take all their assets, give it back to the people, they know where it is needed better than the bogus elected.
- Laurent, London, 05/12/2007 17:43
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London cannot afford a Mayor! It costs too much and we get absolutely nothing in return (but not according to the Mayor himself). Why not save the huge rises in our Council Tax and get rid of the whole office altogether. Has anything actually changed since Livingstone came to office? It's not as if we would miss these wasteful money grabbing bureaucrats whose prime function is to dream up more ways to squeeze the tax payer.
As for Lee Jasper, shame on him for allegedly taking money from the very people in the community it was meant to help. If this is true he should be given the maximum sentence under the law.
- Mike Stern, London, 05/12/2007 17:22
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Livingstone and Jasper. Almost like a comedy act isn't it? It would be if it weren’t so serious. Remember two of Bethnal Green's finest gentlemen Ronnie and Reggie? They used to set up companies called Long Firms. They would buy lots of merchandise on finance terms then pull the plug without paying the bill. Still it's ok to be generous with other people’s money.
- Paul Fretwell, Benfleet, Essex, England, 05/12/2007 16:21
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Ken should go and I think it is elections early next year no? Should he not be budget-limited? Or that he is increasing the Red Ken C-taxes on motorists going into London is why?
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 05/12/2007 16:18
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Well that's what happens when black people emulate the worst type of European and loose all that Caribbean honesty and spirit. Thankfully not everyone has sold out.
- Trueforeigner, London Town, 05/12/2007 15:44
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Once Livingstone and his cronies are gone we will be seeing an awful lot of "creative accountancy" stories appearing in the dailies directly linked to him and his halfwit schemes.
Anyone care to disagree?
- Jimbob, Kensington, 05/12/2007 15:42
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At least if the money has just been misappropriated, it isn't going on GLA projects that make life worse for Londoner’s - like expanding the Congestion charge, removing road space, letting off loud fireworks, giving unruly kids free bus travel, and of course adverts telling us how wonderful the mayor's projects are.
- Miki, Shepherds Bush, 05/12/2007 15:28
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Not in my name! How dare Mr Jasper embroil hard working members of the voluntary sector with this scandal! Has he no shame? If there is no truth in the accusations made against him and his colleagues he should come forward and account for the funds spent. It is hard enough to get financial support for projects in the black community without this kind of negative publicity. I don’t know who set Mr Jasper up as spokesperson for the whole black community, but it certainly wasn’t me, and I'm sure there are better qualified people out there who are more deserved of a £111000 pay packet than he: the chief executive of Lambeth Voluntary Action Centre to name but one. There are well-deserved black-led projects crying out for the sort of funding that has gone amiss, and he seems to think that he shouldn’t be held to account for his actions. Well not in my name! If there is any truth to these allegations, he should resign without further delay, and Ken Livingstone should account for the missing monies. This is not a party political issue. This is about integrity: something that is sadly lacking in County Hall at present.
- Vernon De Maynard, London, UK, 05/12/2007 15:16
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Wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not. Remember all those Londoners who voted for Livingstone because he was 'a bit of a larf'? Hope they're laughing on the other sides of their faces now.
Good work, Mr Gilligan.
- Sjm, London, 05/12/2007 15:08
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Well, that loss will be covered by 'Red Ken' increasing the Congestion Tax! Wake Up London!
- Graham Smith, Morden Park, England, 05/12/2007 14:41
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At least we know where all the taxation is going...down the plug hole, it seems. Roll on the day when these people get kicked out of office.
- Cj Seymour, London, UK, 05/12/2007 14:34
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Are we supposed to act surprised about this in Ken Livingston's office? The imagination boggles at what else will be uncovered.
- Unknown, London, England, 05/12/2007 14:21
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It's a shame it's "Red Ken" and the old GLC all over again. Pity Londoners have not learned about Ken and I must admit I voted for him at the first Mayoral vote. But who can we replace him with? Another Tory loony? Is there no other more decent candidate for Mayor of London?
- George, London, UK, 05/12/2007 14:09
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What on earth is going on?
Surely this must be investigated and until it has been Mr Jasper et al should be suspended without pay.
Once again Ken, proud you are looking after the interests of the hard working tax paying Londoner!
- Graham, SELondon, 05/12/2007 13:46
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Attacking the Black voluntary sector in the run up to the mayoral elections is nothing but a crass misrepresentation of the facts.
Lee Jasper through years of work at the grassroots level in the voluntary sector has more than earned his stripes to be at the level that he is today.
I am repulsed by the way that the Brixton Base project which gives young people fantastic opportunities in the creative arts and training has been slurred and more so by the way that the youth that use the centre described as criminals. Black youth already face the stigma of being constantly labelled as criminals and as an element of society to be feared and distrusted and this article does nothing but reinforce these dangerous sterotypes.
- Pav Zaildar, London, UK, 05/12/2007 13:26
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Typical!
We have had nothing but the present governments incompentence and the donations scandal for that past 2 weeks and not one person was brought to book despite the wrong doings.
What about Mayor Kens own incompentences with the court cases that he threw? or lost for the £200million or whatever the amount the penalty was ( put forward by the transport people) if the deal was held up by a court case (Evening Standard's own investigations...)
When will Mayor Ken face the music on that one if ever he will here on earth that is...? He will of course face it in the hereafter - no one escapes that judgement. When it is too late to make amends!
- Elizabeth Obisanya, Thamsemead, 05/12/2007 13:21
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"Ken Livingstone" and "waste of money" go hand-in-hand. Given the way that the upper echelons of the mayor's 'civil service' is organised, I'll bet this is just the tip of the iceberg. But Ken doesn't care because it's taxpayers' money and he can just tax, tax and tax again at will.
- Eric Murphy, London, UK, 05/12/2007 12:53
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