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BORIS Johnson was accused of cronyism today after he appointed one of his key aides to the London Development Agency.
The Mayor announced his policy adviser Anthony Browne has been made one of 13 board members of the LDA.
The board, which spends £700million a year on business and community projects, is intended to be independent, but has only one Liberal Democrat and no Labour Party members.
Labour's deputy leader on the London Assembly, John Biggs, said: "Given that Boris's cries of cronyism helped him beat Ken last May it looks pretty hypocritical that he's now filling the board room with his own advisers and chums.
"The appointment of his right -hand man shows he has lost trust in the members he appointed only last year and the appointment of yet another Tory in a board without a single Labour representative shows a profound lack of confidence in his ideas and a retreat from his commitment to transparency."
Today the Assembly's economic committee criticised the board for a continuing lack of openness and agreed to write to Mr Johnson expressing concern over a potential conflict of interests.
But a spokeswoman for the Mayor said the appointment was normal procedure.
Reader views (4)
Was there a promise in Boris's Manifesto to give every Tory Freeloader a share of the expenses pot in the GLC?
- Jack Jones, Ealing England
God help us if the Tories win the next election. The top two in the Tory party are old Etonians as well. Who the hell were their tutors.
M W Staffs
- M Willis, cannock,England
We must remember that Boris is happy to hold others to account but flaps like a headless chicken when he has to account for his less than transparent actions - one of the many attributes of a public school education. He is fast becoming a loose cannon and a danger to London's reputation.
- Steve S, London
What are the odds he will still be there this time next year?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
