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Jasper to be reinstated if no criminal activity found
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor25.02.08
Ken Livingstone has signalled that his aide Lee Jasper will be reinstated if police find no evidence against him in the City Hall grants affair.
The Mayor suspended Mr Jasper, his £120,000 a year policing and equalities adviser, following allegations that upto £3 million in public money was misspent on community groups.
In what critics believe was an attempt to shut-down the controversy during the l election campaign, Mr Livingstone asked the police to investigate whether his aide had been involved in criminal activity.
But Scotland Yard announced last week that although they were looking into allegations of fraud involving six different groups, they had received no allegations about Mr Jasper.
Mr Livingstone, who is facing Tory Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick in the May 1 election for Mayor, has now admitted that the police are not investigating his adviser.
Reader views (4)
Dear Jean, no Ken can't back-peddle because he never learnt to ride a bike! (which explains a lot).
- Jack, London
Let's be honest we are witnessing the downfall of titanic Ken Liarstone and his dream of London in his grip for another four years, whatever he rants about in his many speeches before may 1st will be treated by many with a mixture of contempt and rage, he has divided the city,used ridiculous flavour of the month green issues, shown his culture of envy and if all fails he goes for the race card, memo to the politburo of Liarstone, London is moving forward not backwards, to vote for this mayor means the public has been conned again, it wont happen! Just like the green party ...
- Jonnie Of Brixton, London
Your paper has been stating the evidence as it is, you dare not do otherwise. When I have been watching Ken on TV many times, in various programs, he always seems to be in denial in spite of your evidence. He indicates that you are simply making it up to spite him, how strange. It means he must surely accept that you are right, which you are.
- Kenneth Curwen., Enfield
How many times can Ken Livingstone back pedal (obviously was a cyclist in a previous life!). Seems to me that he will say or do anything to be re-elected. I hope that the London electorate are not as gullible as he undoubtedly believes them to be, and confirms this when casting their votes.
- Jean, London
