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Lee Jasper: I'll fight to gain Kate Hoey seat
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor07.05.08
Former mayoral aide Lee Jasper made an audacious bid for a safe Labour seat in the capital today.
Ken Livingstone's former race adviser said he had been approached by party insiders asking him to consider challenging maverick MP Kate Hoey in Vauxhall.
Mr Jasper, who quit after the Standard revealed he had sent sexually charged emails to a woman heading an organisation which received City Hall funds, said he wanted to help improve Londoners' lives.
Ms Hoey angered many in the Labour party before the mayoral election when she said she would be taking an advisory role with Tory candidate Boris Johnson if he won.
However, Mr Jasper's suggestion will surprise many Labour MPs who felt his departure from City Hall was the end of his political life.
It will inevitably be interpreted as an attempt by the former mayor's inner team to get revenge for what they see as a betrayal by Ms Hoey.
In his first interview since standing down, Mr Jasper said: "I've been approached to say whether or not it would be something I would consider to stand as an MP, particularly in Vauxhall.
"I think Kate Hoey is having a difficult time given her stance during the election. I'm considering it, the options are there. I would stand for the Labour party."
He told BBC London radio: "I think that I've got a contribution to make in relation to public office, I've always felt that.
"I'm committed to public services, I'm committed to trying to improve the life of those who face more challenges and difficulties in the city."
Mr Jasper, who was linked to a series of groups given millions of pounds worth of grants by City Hall which then did little or nothing in return, denied the funding row had led to Mr Livingstone's downfall.
He blamed a combination of issues for Labour losing the election and defended the former mayor's record in power. "I don't feel responsible for it in terms of the final election defeat," he said.
"I think there were very many variables that came in, the 10p basic tax rate of the Government, eight years in power is a long time to be mayor of anything, and other national issues, combined to give a bad backdrop to the election as it took place."
Mr Jasper also claimed he had been treated unfairly by the media, suggesting disgraced public figures such as media tycoon Conrad Black and Tory MP Derek Conway had got off lightly in comparison, and that he had done nothing wrong.
He said: "To say I transcended some rule about undermining or over-riding the rules which apply to the governance of those individual projects, the answer has to be no."
However, he admitted the emails sent to mother-of-three Karen Chouhan had been inappropriate and embarrassing, adding that his wife had been "very upset and annoyed" but had accepted they were just "banter".
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Reader views (28)
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Lee jasper as an MP? No way, how can a man who has made a career out of blaming white people for everything possibly be able to provide any sort of representation. He still has many questions to answer over his possible involvement in the theft of taxpayers money.
- Steve, Loughton Essex
Why shouldn't he throw his hat in the ring? I live in nearby Camberwell and I can say that Lee Jasper is far more representative of people in this area than Kate Hoey. She can pop off and get her sinecure from Boris while Vauxhall gets an MP who will not look for jobs from the Tories.
- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK
I believe this is an excellent turn of events. If would make an excellent MP. I've met Lee on many occasions and know that he is completely committed to serving Londoners. Unlike some he's also open to good ideas and committed to equality. He also happens to be a nice chap who I believe has been unfairly treated by the media.
- Andy Mitchell, Islington, London.
