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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mayor admits Olympic torch error | Mayor admits Olympic torch error |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| It was a mistake to allow Chinese secret police to guard the Olympic torch during its London relay, Mayor Ken Livingstone has admitted. | It was a mistake to allow Chinese secret police to guard the Olympic torch during its London relay, Mayor Ken Livingstone has admitted. |
| "It was wrong and should not have happened," he told a BBC London debate. | "It was wrong and should not have happened," he told a BBC London debate. |
| Police said the guards got in the way of officers trying to restore calm during the 6 April procession. | Police said the guards got in the way of officers trying to restore calm during the 6 April procession. |
| At the Stratford debate Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson admitted he had underestimated the cost of putting conductors back on London buses. | At the Stratford debate Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson admitted he had underestimated the cost of putting conductors back on London buses. |
| Meanwhile Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick said that if he were elected for mayor he would advertise for his advisers, rather than appoint them. | |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| The three main mayoral candidates took part in the debate, to be broadcast on Tuesday. | The three main mayoral candidates took part in the debate, to be broadcast on Tuesday. |
| When asked if he knew in advance that the Olympic torch guards were members of China's military secret police, Mr Livingstone admitted that he did not. | When asked if he knew in advance that the Olympic torch guards were members of China's military secret police, Mr Livingstone admitted that he did not. |
| "Had I known, I would have said it was unacceptable," Mr Livingstone said. | "Had I known, I would have said it was unacceptable," Mr Livingstone said. |
| "We are not involved in the running of the Olympics during the election campaign." | "We are not involved in the running of the Olympics during the election campaign." |
| Metropolitan police criticised the blue-suited guards as scuffles broke out between police and anti-China protesters. | Metropolitan police criticised the blue-suited guards as scuffles broke out between police and anti-China protesters. |
| Lord Coe, head of the London 2012 Olympics organising committee, described the guards as "thugs" who tried to push him out of the way of the procession. | Lord Coe, head of the London 2012 Olympics organising committee, described the guards as "thugs" who tried to push him out of the way of the procession. |
| We will select (advisors) objectively against published criteria so that we get the best people for London Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick | We will select (advisors) objectively against published criteria so that we get the best people for London Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick |
| Meanwhile Mr Johnson admitted his plan to reintroduce conductors to London buses would cost more than the £8m he stated in March. | Meanwhile Mr Johnson admitted his plan to reintroduce conductors to London buses would cost more than the £8m he stated in March. |
| The true cost has been estimated at just under £114m. | The true cost has been estimated at just under £114m. |
| "It's true that if you have three shifts (of conductors) it goes up," he said. | "It's true that if you have three shifts (of conductors) it goes up," he said. |
| "Nevertheless I think it is a price that Londoners would think would be worth paying." | "Nevertheless I think it is a price that Londoners would think would be worth paying." |
| During the public debate Mr Johnson refused to name the senior team of advisors he planned to use if he became mayor. | During the public debate Mr Johnson refused to name the senior team of advisors he planned to use if he became mayor. |
| But Mr Paddick said he would advertise for advisors if he won the 1 May election. | But Mr Paddick said he would advertise for advisors if he won the 1 May election. |
| "We will select objectively against published criteria so that we get the best people for London," Mr Paddick said. | "We will select objectively against published criteria so that we get the best people for London," Mr Paddick said. |
| Indicating at his rival candidates, he added: "Not his mates, and not his mates." | Indicating at his rival candidates, he added: "Not his mates, and not his mates." |
| London Decides - The Mayoral Debate will be broadcast on BBC One in the London region at 2235 BST on Tuesday. | London Decides - The Mayoral Debate will be broadcast on BBC One in the London region at 2235 BST on Tuesday. |