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Mayor aide accused of flouting election rules
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent19.02.08
Suspended mayoral aide Lee Jasper was today accused of flouting City Hall rules banning senior staff from political campaigning.
Tory candidate Boris Johnson and Lib-Dem Brian Paddick warned that the adviser could be breaking the rules after an interview in which he said Ken Livingstone was "the candidate of choice" for the 1 May poll.
Mr Jasper, who continues to receive his £120,000-a-year salary, gave an interview attacking Mr Johnson and MrPaddick, although not by name, over their lack of "substantive" policies.
The adviser, one of the Mayor's two political appointees, has been suspended while police consider whether to investigate his involvement in grants given to organisations run by his friends for which there is little or nothing to show. The move came after the Standard revealed concerns over the grants paid by the London Development Agency.
In an interview with The Voice newspaper, Mr Jasper admitted he planned to spend his suspension campaigning to get black Londoners out to vote, suggesting their support was crucial if Mr Livingstone was to be re-elected.
City Hall rules prohibit senior staff from political campaigning, even in their own time, with the apparent intention of winning support for one party.
Today, Mr Johnson said: "He has used this interview to campaign on behalf of his boss even though the rules state he is not allowed to do so. This says everything we need to know about the way the Mayor runs City Hall. Both the Mayor and his cronies have a blatant disregard for the rules."
Mr Paddick added: "It's important that Londoners from all ethnic communities come out to vote on 1 May, but anyone suspended on £120,000 of taxpayer's money should not play any part in the forthcoming elections."
Senior Greater London Authority insiders said Mr Jasper's interview raised "interesting questions" over the rules. Mr Jasper could face referral to City Hall authorities, although disciplinary action would be a matter for the Mayor.
A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "This matter has been referred to the relevant officer of the GLA to look at."
Mr Jasper was suspended from his role as Mr Livingstone's policing and race adviser last week over the City Hall grants scandal. It follows 10 weeks of revelations over £3.3million paid by the LDA. Mr Jasper denies any wrongdoing.
Last night he also stepped down as chairman of the Trident Independent Advisory Group, which advises the Met on gun crime in black communities.
He told The Voice: "People see that the other candidates don't have any substantive policy positions on any of the major issues. Ken, standing on his record and his manifesto, will be declared the candidate of choice." He added: "I am going to be working hard with Operation Black Vote and a host of other organisations to register as many of our people to vote... The voting strength of African, Caribbean, Asian communities means nobody can get elected here without the support of these groups."
The GLA said: "Any activity that appears to be a breach of the statutory regulations would be a breach of terms and conditions of employment. Any allegations of breaches would be investigated in the normal way."
Reader views (8)
I am a Black man and I would never, never vote for a candidate who is recommended by Lee Jasper. Lee Jasper and his likes will never represent nor speak for black people like me (and there are many of us) because their only substantive policy is to deceive the very people they pretend to represent.
Intelligent Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities have minds of their own and do not need Lee Jasper's advise.
- Cl, Woodford Green
Lee Jasper is the so called special "race" advisor and yet he comments -
I am going to be working hard with Operation Black Vote and also - African Caribbean communities, nobody can get elected here without the support of these groups. Doesn't sound a very inclusive harmonious message does it.
What exactly are Caucasian voters getting from Mr Jasper?
- Robin Hunter, UK,Sutton
Yeah, well we all know what Jasper's substantive policy is!
- D.Wilde, London
It appears that there needs to be new legislation regardless of who becomes Mayor. Senior GLA members consider if action is required but it is referred to the Mayor for the decision. Which Mayor is going to go against someone who is campaigning for them?
- Sara, London
We expect nothing else from Ken and his cohorts. They are so drunk on power they have no concept of right or wrong. It also very amusing to hear them tell us that it always some one else's fault - never their own - "a big boy done it and ran away". This is yob rule.
- John Of Enfield, Enfield, UK
He's right about one fact "The voting strength of African, Caribbean, Asian communities means nobody can get elected here without the support of these groups."
- Russell, London
Is there going to be no end to Lee Jasper and Ken Livingstone riding rough shod over the London electorate?
Reading this article, it would seem that they can do exactly as they please without recourse!
Whatever your ethnic background... please don't vote for these people again London! You all deserve integrity and honesty not this smoke and mirrors organisation.
- Stephanie Harwood, UK
Making false accusations of racism in an attempt to slur an individual or organisation should be made a crime. All too often these accusations are made in courts throughout the land and all too often they are found to have no substance, but are used to try to intimidate others and to to drum up support on racial lines. Therefore these accusations are themselves racist and unacceptable as well as a huge cost to the taxpayer and society.
- Clive, London
