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Iron fist inside boris's velvet glove
Ross Lydall03.09.09
Boris Johnson's deputy Kit Malthouse is the iron fist inside the Mayor's velvet glove.
As one of his deputy mayors, Liverpool-born, publicity-hungry Mr Malthouse, 42, has taken the mantle of Mr Johnson's most visible enforcer, the rumbustious figure sent out to "front-up" to the media when controversy arises and the Mayor wishes to keep his hands clean.
He rose to prominence as deputy leader of Westminster council. He was the public face of the council's biggest controversy - the decision to agree to allow former leader Dame Shirley Porter to repay only £12million of the £43million she owed after being found guilty of the "homes for votes" scandal.
Mr Malthouse inherited the safe Tory seat of West Central on the London Assembly, being elected to City Hall last year. He earns £109,340 - £52,910 from the assembly and £56,430 as vice-chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
He has been less successful finding a Tory parliamentary seat, despite slimming down from the days when he was described by the press as "roly poly". He is twice married and is independently wealthy as a result of his financial business. He once held ambitions of setting up his own private airline.
One City Hall source suspected that Mr Malthouse may harbour mayoral ambitions of his own, possibly before or after building a reputation as a "maverick" Tory MP.
Reader views (2)
Why are these Bureaucrats at the Tax Payers expense allowed to sit on the Metropolitan Police Authority.
There is obviously a self serving interest.
Once again the majority of people who are victims of crime are people on low incomes.
Are all these organisations being funded by the law abiding Tax Payer who is being fed propoganda
- Barry Deane, Richmond, United Kingdom
As the Tories have pointed out Boris Johnson's regime in London gives an indication of what a Cameron Government would be like. Nice on the outside but power mad when elected.
- R Wright, Acton England
