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Mayor's race adviser steps down Mayor's race adviser steps down
(10 minutes later)
The Mayor of London's senior aide Lee Jasper has resigned.The Mayor of London's senior aide Lee Jasper has resigned.
Mr Jasper had been at the centre of allegations concerning the misuse of public funds.Mr Jasper had been at the centre of allegations concerning the misuse of public funds.
The Greater London Authority insisted there was no foundation for the allegations against Mr Livingstone's adviser on race relations. The Greater London Authority (GLA) said there was no foundation for the allegations against Mr Livingstone's adviser on race relations.
But it added Mr Jasper had tendered his resignation after new claims on Tuesday, which the mayor's spokesman said Mr Livingstone had accepted.But it added Mr Jasper had tendered his resignation after new claims on Tuesday, which the mayor's spokesman said Mr Livingstone had accepted.
Black organisations The racist nature of a relentless media campaign and the consequent effects on myself and family have placed an intolerable strain on all of us Lee Jasper
The resignation comes after the Evening Standard newspaper published claims that Mr Jasper had sent intimate e-mails to a woman involved with organisations which received City Hall cash.The resignation comes after the Evening Standard newspaper published claims that Mr Jasper had sent intimate e-mails to a woman involved with organisations which received City Hall cash.
On Wednesday Mr Jasper was due to face the London Assembly to answer questions about his involvement in community projects which received money from City Hall. In a letter to the mayor, Mr Jasper said: "It has become clear that a number of matters which are not of first importance in London are being used to distract from the crucial questions in the election campaign.
"The racist nature of a relentless media campaign and the consequent effects on myself and family have placed an intolerable strain on all of us.
"I have decided to put a stop to this by tendering my resignation."
On Wednesday Mr Jasper had been due to face the London Assembly to answer questions about his involvement in community projects which received money from City Hall.
Gun crime
The allegations concern money paid by the London Development Agency (LDA), the mayor's business arm, to a number of black organisations.The allegations concern money paid by the London Development Agency (LDA), the mayor's business arm, to a number of black organisations.
An internal inquiry in January cleared Mr Jasper of any wrongdoing but he was suspended by the mayor and later resigned from the Trident black gun crime advisory board.An internal inquiry in January cleared Mr Jasper of any wrongdoing but he was suspended by the mayor and later resigned from the Trident black gun crime advisory board.
Paying tribute to Mr Jasper's work, a GLA statement said: "Operation Trident, aimed against black gun crime, has been an outstanding success with the arrest of many dozens of criminals engaged with guns without a single shot being fired.
"The GLA is an exemplary authority achieving national recognition in the country in regard to equality and procurement. Lee Jasper played a leading role in regard to these."