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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".
Reader views (29)
The people of Vauxhall are not so stupid as to vote for Jasper and his bunch of self centred cronies. Livingstone tried to corner the ethnic vote in London, calling it the 'rainbow alliance', but forgot that even hard working ethnic families are sick and tired of ever increasing council tax, congestion charges, the unaccountability of Livingstone appointed 'comrades' and the general feeling of being constantly conned.
There are dozens of honest, hard working and untainted candidates, from the ethnic community, who would be much more representative than Livingstone, Jasper or anyone else connected to them.
- Pip, Sutton. UK
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.
He surely must be joking!
- Alan, Essex
He should fit in well with the Labour party, and I notice it's a "safe" seat he's going for.
Oh and will he be giving up his subsidised housing association house in Clapham in the near future
- Neil Grninsell, london
I think Lee Jasper should ask himself after his fiasco in the GLA would the Labour Party want to endorse him.
- Alexis Dogilewski, London, England
Brown was happy increasing Stamp duty in a rising healthy market, what is the chance of him "Leading" and reducing stamp now to assist?
Yeah right, nothing but a greedy conniving Marxist git!
- Eastender., Hempstead
Chutzpah or denial - you choose. The man has no shame. He typifies all that was wrong with Ken Livingstone's last years in office. I thought he was gone and good riddance. I wouldn't even put it past him to be kite flying over Kate Hooey's job.
- Hazelj, London UK
Mr Jasper he's a gasper!
- Cotton, leyton
Kate Hoey is a disgrace to the Labour party of which I am a member, she should be booted out.
- Chris, Bristol, UK
Far be it for us mere mortals to presume to know the workings of the minds of the great and famous. I do believe that every dog should have his day, but one thing puzzles me, now that the inner workings of City Hall over the last year will be exposed, what chance would Lee Jasper got of discharging his duties at Westminster if he's been sent away to 'University'?
- Jeremiah, London
Public Life is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
- John Ledbury, London England
Is their is no end to the out rite cheek of these people! Is their no end to their corruption is there no vice that these people don't practice. They stink of it are we rally so stupid.
- Terence Oakes, Rainhill, Liverpool England
He's a comic genius - why not email him a list of London's comedy clubs? That should be his new job.
Even with the misused money spent in south London, I don't think they could buy enough votes to unseat Ms. Hoey.
She is a popular MP and a person of great integrity, so probably doesn't fit the NuLabour model.
- Sarahn, London, UK
This man does not appear to realise it, but he is the Tories' Neil Hamilton circa 1997.
- Tff, London
LB London. Agree totally.
- Asw, Hong Kong
This brand of politician really does not understand the contempt with which their every utterance is heard.
- Peter Robinson, Audierne, France
Thanks for that, I needed a laugh this afternoon.
- T Leaf, Chelsea
Given his involvement in suspect LDA grants using tax payer money exposed in the Standard investigation this is one snout that should be kept right out of the parliamentary trough. Labour would be mad to encourage such a person to run for public office.
- Incredulous, London
He certainly has many of the qualities that make a good Labour MP as I'm sure most will agree. Corruption and thieving in the Labour Party has come to be expected and as their grip on power loosens more will grab what they can before these rats leave the sinking ship. The Tories will, no doubt, be keen to do their spoils grabbing from the hard-working public next. People should vote for those not proven to be greedy, those Parties that have not yet been in power, maybe not better, but should be given the benefit of the doubt.
- Giles, London
The biggest crooks of all are always the Tories, so just watch this space.
- Chris71, London SE9
The cheek of the man. He is so used to getting away with anything, just because he is a black race relations advisor. I think he is an insult to black folk.
- Helen, Norwich
Conrad Black is currently in prison in America. Derek Conway was expelled from the Conservative party and is leaving Parliament at the next election. Both have been pilloried in the press.
In what way had these two people 'got off lightly' compared with Lee Jasper, who - by contrast - remains a full member of his party and is apparently being encouraged to stand for a safe seat Parliament?
- Scary, Windsor
This thieving cretin should crawl back under his rock and stay there permanently. London doesn't want or need any more of these corrupt political figures. He's never been in it for anything other than personal gain. Don't you get it Mr Jasper? You're history same as your mate Ken.
- Lb, London
I suspect what he really wants is to retain the standard of living he's become accustomed to at London taxpayers' expense.
- L Wheatley, London, England
Electorate - says NO!
- Julianne, london, SW9
Kate Hoey has already been reselected unanimously to fight the next general election - so it will be difficult for anyone to challenge for the Vauxhall selection.
- David Boothroyd, London, UK
Well he has all the correct qualifications, lies cheats and spins the truth he is a sure thing for a safe labour seat.
- Ian Makin, twickenham
