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| Johnson attacked in smoke ban row | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has been accused of a "humiliating climb-down" after he clarified comments he had made on the smoking ban. | Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has been accused of a "humiliating climb-down" after he clarified comments he had made on the smoking ban. |
| In a web chat he appeared to back an "online referendum" on giving London boroughs the power to rule on smoking. | |
| But later he said he was expressing a personal view that such laws should be decided locally and thought pubs were "better places" since the ban. | But later he said he was expressing a personal view that such laws should be decided locally and thought pubs were "better places" since the ban. |
| Labour accused him of a "flip flop" and said his policies were "unravelling". | Labour accused him of a "flip flop" and said his policies were "unravelling". |
| In a web chat with The Sun newspaper on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: "We would have an online referendum in London about whether to give boroughs the power to hand discretion over smoking in pubs and clubs." | In a web chat with The Sun newspaper on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: "We would have an online referendum in London about whether to give boroughs the power to hand discretion over smoking in pubs and clubs." |
| Personal view | Personal view |
| On Thursday the Conservative Party said his words had been cut back from a full quote, which began: "What is the point of having local democracy if we don't leave decisions like this to a local level? 'If I had my way, we would have an online referendum..." | On Thursday the Conservative Party said his words had been cut back from a full quote, which began: "What is the point of having local democracy if we don't leave decisions like this to a local level? 'If I had my way, we would have an online referendum..." |
| Mr Johnson, who was paid between £5,001 and £10,000 for a speech to the Tobacco Association in June last year, according to the register of members' interests, said he had been expressing a personal view on how laws like the smoking ban should be decided. | Mr Johnson, who was paid between £5,001 and £10,000 for a speech to the Tobacco Association in June last year, according to the register of members' interests, said he had been expressing a personal view on how laws like the smoking ban should be decided. |
| Johnson continues to drop himself in it and his team have to follow him with a bucket and shovel Brian Paddick | Johnson continues to drop himself in it and his team have to follow him with a bucket and shovel Brian Paddick |
| "Personally I do not like smoking and believe that pubs and clubs are better places since the ban came in," he said. | "Personally I do not like smoking and believe that pubs and clubs are better places since the ban came in," he said. |
| "It is not within the power of the mayor to have a referendum, nor will I be lobbying for the power to grant one." | "It is not within the power of the mayor to have a referendum, nor will I be lobbying for the power to grant one." |
| But Minister for London Tessa Jowell, who is running Labour's mayoral campaign said Mr Johnson had been "forced by his aides into this humiliating climb-down". | But Minister for London Tessa Jowell, who is running Labour's mayoral campaign said Mr Johnson had been "forced by his aides into this humiliating climb-down". |
| 'U-turn' | 'U-turn' |
| "This just shows why (the Conservatives' campaigning guru) Lynton Crosby's minders are keeping Boris Johnson away from detailed questioning of his policies. | "This just shows why (the Conservatives' campaigning guru) Lynton Crosby's minders are keeping Boris Johnson away from detailed questioning of his policies. |
| "Earlier this week he admitted the huge £100 million black hole in his bus plans, now he has been forced into a U-turn on the smoking ban." | "Earlier this week he admitted the huge £100 million black hole in his bus plans, now he has been forced into a U-turn on the smoking ban." |
| She added: "As another one of his policies unravels, again we see that Boris Johnson is not a serious candidate, he's a serious risk to London's future." | She added: "As another one of his policies unravels, again we see that Boris Johnson is not a serious candidate, he's a serious risk to London's future." |
| The Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick said: "Johnson continues to drop himself in it and his team have to follow him with a bucket and shovel." | The Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick said: "Johnson continues to drop himself in it and his team have to follow him with a bucket and shovel." |
| Ten candidates are competing for the job of mayor of London, which has been held by Labour's Ken Livingstone since 2000. | Ten candidates are competing for the job of mayor of London, which has been held by Labour's Ken Livingstone since 2000. |
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