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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mayor Johnson 'misled' by deputy | Mayor Johnson 'misled' by deputy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he was "misled" by his deputy, Ray Lewis, who resigned on Friday. | London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he was "misled" by his deputy, Ray Lewis, who resigned on Friday. |
| Mr Lewis, Deputy Mayor for Young People, stood down over claims of financial irregularities stretching back almost a decade. | Mr Lewis, Deputy Mayor for Young People, stood down over claims of financial irregularities stretching back almost a decade. |
| But Mr Johnson said his "confidence was shaken" when he was wrongly led to believe that Mr Lewis was a magistrate. | But Mr Johnson said his "confidence was shaken" when he was wrongly led to believe that Mr Lewis was a magistrate. |
| The Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, said the mayor's administration was in "complete disarray". | The Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, said the mayor's administration was in "complete disarray". |
| Mr Lewis, a former prison officer, is facing an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour relating to his time as a vicar in east London in the late 1990s and head of a youth academy scheme in 2003. | Mr Lewis, a former prison officer, is facing an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour relating to his time as a vicar in east London in the late 1990s and head of a youth academy scheme in 2003. |
| This includes a claim he was entrusted with £25,000 from a woman in the congregation in the Parish of St Matthew, West Ham. This shows vividly the incompetence of Boris Johnson and his administration Ken Livingstone | |
| However, it was an understanding that he was a magistrate which Mr Johnson centred on in a statement regarding his deputy's resignation, which he said was accepted with "extreme reluctance". | However, it was an understanding that he was a magistrate which Mr Johnson centred on in a statement regarding his deputy's resignation, which he said was accepted with "extreme reluctance". |
| The mayor added: "I cannot deny, however, that my confidence in Ray was shaken by the discovery today that he is not a fully fledged Justice of the Peace and I cannot deny that to be misled on this issue has made it harder for me to give Ray the backing necessary to continue in his role as deputy mayor." | The mayor added: "I cannot deny, however, that my confidence in Ray was shaken by the discovery today that he is not a fully fledged Justice of the Peace and I cannot deny that to be misled on this issue has made it harder for me to give Ray the backing necessary to continue in his role as deputy mayor." |
| In a press conference at City Hall to announce his resignation, Mr Lewis said: "There was some talk in the press of me being or not being a magistrate. | In a press conference at City Hall to announce his resignation, Mr Lewis said: "There was some talk in the press of me being or not being a magistrate. |
| "If you are fully paid-up members of the 'hair splitters' convention it will have made a difference to you whether or not I was appointed or recommended for appointment. | "If you are fully paid-up members of the 'hair splitters' convention it will have made a difference to you whether or not I was appointed or recommended for appointment. |
| Ray Lewis hopes to support Boris Johnson in an unofficial capacity | Ray Lewis hopes to support Boris Johnson in an unofficial capacity |
| "I've passed all the interviews for it. I've had a letter confirming that I have been recommended for appointment to the board." | |
| Major figures in the Labour Party immediately launched an attack on the mayor's administration and the Conservative leader David Cameron. | Major figures in the Labour Party immediately launched an attack on the mayor's administration and the Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| Ms Blears said: "People across the country will note that after just two months, the new Tory administration in London is in complete disarray. | Ms Blears said: "People across the country will note that after just two months, the new Tory administration in London is in complete disarray. |
| "David Cameron has known Ray Lewis since his first day as Tory leader and Boris Johnson appointed him as deputy mayor days into the job. | "David Cameron has known Ray Lewis since his first day as Tory leader and Boris Johnson appointed him as deputy mayor days into the job. |
| "People will ask themselves, how have they allowed themselves to be embroiled in a mess like this?" | "People will ask themselves, how have they allowed themselves to be embroiled in a mess like this?" |
| Former London mayor Ken Livingstone added: "In a mere two months in office Boris Johnson has already suffered the second resignation from among his most senior officials - Deputy Mayor Ray Lewis following Deputy Chief of Staff James McGrath two weeks ago. | Former London mayor Ken Livingstone added: "In a mere two months in office Boris Johnson has already suffered the second resignation from among his most senior officials - Deputy Mayor Ray Lewis following Deputy Chief of Staff James McGrath two weeks ago. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| "In my entire eight years in office I suffered only one enforced resignation of any of my most senior officials, Lee Jasper - and that only after seven years. | "In my entire eight years in office I suffered only one enforced resignation of any of my most senior officials, Lee Jasper - and that only after seven years. |
| "This extreme contrast shows vividly the incompetence of Boris Johnson and his administration. | "This extreme contrast shows vividly the incompetence of Boris Johnson and his administration. |
| "It is an equal crisis for David Cameron who, it should be remembered, chose to make his first photo opportunity as Tory leader with Ray Lewis." | "It is an equal crisis for David Cameron who, it should be remembered, chose to make his first photo opportunity as Tory leader with Ray Lewis." |
| But Mr Johnson offered some backing to his former deputy and said: "If Ray Lewis cleared his name then of course I would re-appoint him." | But Mr Johnson offered some backing to his former deputy and said: "If Ray Lewis cleared his name then of course I would re-appoint him." |
| What is your reaction to Ray Lewis's resignation? Send us your comments using the form below: | What is your reaction to Ray Lewis's resignation? Send us your comments using the form below: |