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Ken Livingstone faces mounting questions as the City Hall grants scandal deepened.
• Leaked emails show that the chief executive of his London Development Agency expressed "the deepest possible concern" about a £345,000 grant to a close friend of the Mayor's senior aide, Lee Jasper.
• The emails - obtained by the Standard - show that Mr Jasper's friend, Joel O'Loughlin, grossly overcharged, deceived the LDA and failed to provide any of the services he promised.
• The LDA chief executive, Manny Lewis, wanted to sack Mr O'Loughlin, claw back all the LDA's money and even talked about suing him.
• But within days, after Mr O'Loughlin contacted Mr Jasper, the LDA performed a 180-degree turn, offering Mr O'Loughlin another £250,000 and a lucrative consultancy.
• Two senior LDA managers who vehemently protested against this deal - one calling it "extortionate" and "against the interests of the GLA" - were subsequently sacked. The emails show that Mr Jasper played the decisive role in one of the sackings.
• The emails undermine claims by the Mayor that our story last week - that £2.5million has been paid to organisations controlled by Mr Jasper's friends and business associates - was a "tissue of lies" and that there was a "full audit trail" on all the projects we mentioned, including one called Diversity International.
• London Assembly member Richard Barnes said: "These emails bring [a] cover-up right to the Mayor's feet."
• The emails raise serious questions over how much the Mayor knew as they were copied to senior members of his office including Redmond O'Neill, director of public affairs.
• The emails make clear Mr Jasper's day-to-day involvement in the LDA's work and the extraordinary influence he exerted over it.
TO READ THE FULL STORY CLICK HERE
TO READ THE APRIL 27, 2006 LETTER CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
TO READ THE ORIGINAL EMAILS, CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW
April 22, 2006 (pdf)
April 23, 2006 (pdf)
April 25, 2006 (pdf)
May 1, 2006 (pdf)
May 5, 2006 (pdf)
May 5, 2006 (pdf)
May 5, 2006 (pdf)
May 6, 2006 (pdf)
June 21, 2006 (pdf)
June 21, 2006 (pdf)
June 25, 2006 (pdf)
July 11, 2006 (pdf)
Reader views (23)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
To Ken and Lee, the Chinese have a proverb: "The fish rots from the head".
- Jerome N. Keshwar, Johannesburg, South Africa
Congratulations to Andrew Gilligan and those at the Evening Standard who back him. First rate investigative journalism that is also a wake up call to us in a supposedly 'free' society that we should be ashamed at allowing the creeping paralysis of city hall scandals, in any town and under whatever cloak.
- Helen, Norwich
As an English woman living in Australia I remain speechless that Red Ken is still at county hall. The Brits are so very tolerant, but it is time to get real and get rid of this man.
- Elaine Black, Sydney Australia
Souldn't Boris be jumping up and down, making waves about this? Somehow I don't think he wants to be mayor.
- John, Clacton UK
As a retired journalist I congratulate Andrew Gilligan on his investigative work. In a red-top, spin-fed world it is a breath of fresh air. It's what journalism used to be - and still ought to be - about.
Don't let them off the hook, Andrew.
- Don Hurley, London, England
Let us hope this information finds its way to the voters. We can not expect the BBC to mention it but so far there is nothing in the newspapers yet.
- M Young, London UK
Well done. Now expose the BBC for their terrible bias in favour of Labour and Livingstone. Get rid of all these people that only care about themselves.
- Lemar, UK
Keep it up, Andrew Gilligan. Don't let them get away with abuse. Black or white, abuse is abuse.
- Anthony, London
That's our money City Hall is handing out to their cronies.
Good work Evening Standard.
- Roger, London, UK
Thank you Mr Gilligan, for keeping us informed about what is really going on!
- Peter, Herts
Yeah when you show the audit trail of how the £120 million to the ppp was really spent.
- Elizabeth Obisanya, London SE28
Listen 89% of all LDA/GLA funding goes to white and Asian oganisations; Why is Andrew not pointing his so called investigation in that direction?
- Frank, London
Time to stand up to Livingstone. Crying 'racism' is the lowest form of cowardice. If that money has gone missing, it has been to the detriment of the people it was meant to help. Ken has been given too much power. Time for a change.
- Beatriz, London
Andrew Gilligan, I am glad that you have refused to be intimidated by race mongers! Please, don't give up the fight!
- John, London
I am surprised that this story has not taken on more prominence in the national news. I think that the Evening Standard is one of the few places that I heard anything about this.
- Dardellion Montblanc, London, UK
There is obviously real suspicion of public sector scandal on a grand scale.
Also, what are Assembly members doing? Are they just sitting on their hands and quietly drawing their expenses? Likewise the GLA's Standards Committee?
- David, Cambridge, UK
Yes I can only agree with other posters on this topic...you're doing a grand job Andrew Gilligan, keep on fireing on all 4 cylinders.
- Bazzer, West Country
For fear of sounding obvious, keep "at it" Mr. Gilligan.
- Robert Zimmerman, London
Well done Gilligan. Keep on telling the truth.
- Sean, London
I find it hard to believe that there is absolutely no coverage by the BBC news of your brilliant expose of the alleged corruption it seeems its up to you Mr Gilligan, keep up the good work.
- Larry, Pinner UK
Superb reporting. Keep banging away Andrew - for the sake of all Londoners.
- Charles, London
Andrew Gilligan, keep up the good work! It is important for public sevants to account for public funds.
I hope that if there is prima facie evidence of wrong-doing, the CPS will be robust in bringing these people to account.
- V Tan, London, UK
Gilligan is a fantastic journalist, one of the finest in the country. Thanks Andrew, your work is superb.
- Bob, London
