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Boris Johnson has to delay mayoral bid in row over City Hall rules
Pippa Crerar and Ross Lydall24 Jun 2010
Boris Johnson postponed his plans to launch his re-election bid at the State of London debate tonight after lawyers warned he would be breaching strict City Hall rules, it was claimed today.
Insiders at City Hall said the Greater London Authority's lawyers had got wind of the fact the Mayor intended to announce he was running at the taxpayer-funded event.
They advised the Mayor's office that the debate, which costs in the region of £75,000 to put on, was a statutory public event that could not be used for political purposes.
A senior member of Mr Johnson's team then sought a second legal opinion, sources claimed, which confirmed that the proposed launch would be against the rules.
The Standard revealed yesterday that Mr Johnson intends to run for Mayor again in 2012 but that he had delayed his launch until after the start of his bike hire scheme, which is due at the end of next month.
However, it later emerged that his cold feet were apparently down to the legal advice.
A source close to the Mayor claimed it had never been the idea to launch at tonight's event, and that Mr Johnson would have spoken to the media first, only answering questions at the event if the issue came up.
“It's for the Mayor to decide whether he asks for the people's endorsement for a second term or not, and when he does he will clarify his intentions to whoever asks,” said the source. “There are no legal or procedural operations that can frustrate or demand that.”
There is ongoing concern among some civil servants at City Hall about the alleged “continued ignorance” among the Mayor's aides about legal requirements.
Mr Johnson attracted criticism during the general election campaign for going ahead with the reopening of the East London line, which opponents claimed was in breach of the rules as it was a political event.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson's predecessor Ken Livingstone has claimed he is 10 points ahead in the Mayor's own private polling. Mr Livingstone, who had his Labour selection interview this morning, said GLA polling showed he was winning the popularity contest against Mr Johnson.
However, City Hall denied that the GLA polling asked any questions about Ken Livingstone, claiming it asked only whether the public was satisfied or dissatisfied with the current Mayor's performance.
Former MP Oona King, who is also running to become Labour's mayoral candidate, said she would make London a less stressful place to live and encourage private-sector bosses to increase pay.
Reader views (13)
I actually think that it's not that Boris doesn't have the brains to understand basic legal obligations... it's just that he doesn't trouble himself with reading anything.
His basic political views seem to be this:
1) Make myself look good
2) Make sure I back my friends in the Square Mile.
That's it.
- Mike, London, 28/06/2010 17:00
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This is not surprising given the fact that Boris has no idea how legal protocols work. One only has to take the Western C-Charge which he has had over 2 years to deal with and as soon as he starts an official consultation he pre-judges its outcome with the result being wide open to legal challenges!!!
A scheme which he inherited from the last Mayor which is a great success for the company that runs it, but doesn't really make a lot of difference to congestion levels. Most of the traffic is commercial and still needs to use the roads so they pass on this charge to the consumer.
Boris could always ask the public for their views at considerable expense to the taxpayer and then ignore them, but Ken already beat him to it.
- Mike Stern, London, 24/06/2010 23:11
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Re-electing Ken would be three steps back for London. The Lib/Dem coaltion are cutting everything because of Labour's economic failings and Ken wasted our taxes like they did. And ironically, didn't James Whale get sacked from Talksport for telling everyone not to vote Ken?
- bob forton, london, 24/06/2010 22:54
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This is not surprising given the fact that Boris has no idea how legal protocols work. One only has to take the Western C-Charge which he has had over 2 years to deal with and as soon as he starts an official consultation he pre-judges its outcome with the result being wide open to legal challenges!!!
Best place for Boris would be in a re-make of Mr Chips!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island , Essex, 24/06/2010 19:15
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To the person who asked, of course it is 'acceptable' for Livingstone to do and say what he wants on the radio. He is currently a private citizen and not an elected representative. This is a fairly simple concept.
The analysis by London Councils of cuts to local authority grants from central government after the budget is on their website. It shows the biggest cuts are to Hackney and Islington, £8 million each.
The areas with lowest level of cuts from central government are Kingston Upon Thames, Richmond Upon Thames Sutton and City of London. Each has under £2 million in cuts each.
It's lucky that the Tories are not cutting funding to poorer areas at 4 times the rate of richer areas... oh, wait...
- STG, Peckham, London, 24/06/2010 18:01
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Londongirl,London.
I agree with you everytime I hear him on Saturday in particular he is always promoting himself on LBC,but I have control of the switch !!! Ha Ha.
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 24/06/2010 17:56
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Labour party here really should look at new Australia leader, Just listen to her speech about why she decided to run against Rudd. Labour twits could learn a lot about candidates there. Its time to change, pick someone new and by the way even if Red Ken runs by himself again! This time no one would vote for him, they only voted for him last time because of what MT "Tories" did to the LCC.
- A Worker, London., 24/06/2010 17:37
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Polls at this minute are not to be discounted but please take with a pinch of salt. Folk have just been hit with a new government, who will be making necessary cuts in the future, so this might have some bearing on Boris not doing as well? It's early days, not all public are as fixed as he thinks, Ken this is. Take stock when the budget drama has died down, and, when folk can receive it much better. Not final. Then you can re-sell some other drama to them!
S.
- M, London, 24/06/2010 16:30
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Ken wasted our money-nuff said
- Maura Casey, London SW3, 24/06/2010 15:25
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One of the Labour leader candidates needs to take Ken aside and remind him that he lost and that his brand of politics is not what is required anymore.
Losers do not make good leaders, as Brown found out.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 24/06/2010 14:46
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I wonder if it's acceptable for Ken Livingstone to regularly host phone-ins on LBC using it as an electoral platform to be constantly Boris bashing.
- londongirl, london, 24/06/2010 14:41
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Boris, your bid for 2012 was launched the day you took office. No need for any Livingstone type stunts, just do well & I will vote for you.
Remember it's not what you promise it is what you deliver.
- Mark Myword, London, 24/06/2010 13:38
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I won't be voting for Livingstone because of his connections with UAF,troublemaker!
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 24/06/2010 12:56
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