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New call for Jasper probe
Ross Lydall, City Hall Editor26.02.08
The Met has been asked by City Hall to reopen its investigation into mayoral aide Lee Jasper, it has emerged.
Scotland Yard issued a statement last week saying it had been unable to look into the "dodgy grants" controversy surrounding Mr Jasper as it had not received any allegations of criminal behaviour.
The matter had been referred to the Met by Ken Livingstone in what critics believed was an attempt to sideline the issue in the run-up to May's mayoral election.
Today Mr Livingstone said Janet Worth, the Greater London Authority's executive director of corporate services, had written to the Yard with details of nine charges of misconduct he believes have been published in the Standard, plus a further charge against Mr Jasper made by Tory group leader on the London Assembly Richard Barnes.
Mr Jasper, the Mayor's £120,000-a-year policing and equalities director, was suspended on full pay 11 days ago.
The Standard has never suggested Mr Jasper was involved in criminal activity. Mr Jasper was facing fresh claims over his conduct today as it emerged that he apparently failed to declare he was chairman of race-equality organisation Equanomics, which received £15,000 in funding from the Greater London Authority.
Reader views (3)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Hold on a minute. Now I don't know Lee Jasper's personal dealings and in fact if I was accused of something then I would ask the police to investigate me as well. I am really not too interested and the reason why is because the money that you are talking about is peanuts. In Newcross Gate we have an NDC, which all the community is complaining about and nobody is listening. this NDC regeneration programme is a £45 million grant and so far the community has received practically nothing. Where has this money gone? So far the accounts for the last 7 years have been requested time and time again, but still we have not received them. I think its time to ask the London borough of Lewisham some questions.
- Antoinette Tamakloe, Newcross, London
The situation regarding Lee Jasper becomes more compelling day by day. Every new scandal is yet another nail in the coffin of Ken Livingstone. He must cut this individual loose before Ken himself loses the entire confidence of the public. Yet another funded group that gets public money and yet again Lee Jasper is the chair. Does this man not know the rules regarding public office?
Well done to the Gilligan team
- Mary Ann, London
Lee Jasper earns £2000 a week and lives in a housing association house...nuff said on his mind set.
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton england
