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Boris signs away drugs meant for 999 services
Paul Waugh01.05.09
Boris Johnson has signed away 100,000 tablets of the flu drug being kept for London's emergency services.
The Mayor offered the entire City Hall stockpile of anti-viral Tamiflu to Whitehall and the NHS, without realising they were for police, fire and ambulance crews, critics claimed today.
Former mayor Ken Livingstone bought the drugs for £1million several years ago in order to keep essential services running in the event of a flu pandemic. But Mr Johnson decided this week to sign off a move by junior officials to offer the Tamiflu to Whitehall and the NHS.
City Hall sources say the decision was taken without consulting the Met Commissioner or London Fire Commissioner. There is doubt over whether it is legal for the Mayor to hand over free stocks that were bought for London rather than the country as a whole.
It is understood that the use-by date on the Tamiflu stocks is early next year but critics say they could easily be used for London's key workers now.
A spokeswoman for the Mayor said: "Financial and legal officials at the GLA have approved this course of action as offering the anti-virals to the relevant authorities is the best way of ensuring London is properly prepared and protected." The Mayor's office says he wants guarantees from central government that the emergency services will still get their share of Tamiflu stocks. Critics say he has no formal agreement that this will happen.
Reader views (8)
Boris Johnson Mayor of London "What a Plonker"
Goes to show he needed the training that Ken offerred to him!!
Just think if a poor old public Sector worker made this mistake there would be calls for them to be sacked!!...Funny being BOJO how quite it is.
I suppose Boris is to busy looking for a Maypole...Although I suppose they dont exist anymore!...You know Maypoles!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Sorry Susan, Boris has frequently shown he cannot be trusted at all - too many bloopers. Many people voted for him only because he is not Ken. And now he wants to be Prime Minister? As if matters are not bad enough already!
- Jan, tottenham. london
Um, London's Mayor is supposed to look out for London, not the NHS and Whitehall? I voted for Boris, but regret doing so more and more everyday. I will certainly not be voting for him again, nor any Tory while he is in anything to do with them.
- K Williams, London
Well done Boris at least you running true to form.
- Mike M, Bedford England
Susan
Sad, but I think it is already too late to save him. He is living with the fairies.
- Richard, London, England
BoZo strikes again!
- Roy, England
Susan of Battersea, you are a comedy genius!
- Fresh, London
I hope Boris will be able to be treated as he is the most important person in London who can be trusted the most to save us all.
- Susan, Battersea
