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No 10 and Mayor in 'seating row' No 10 and Mayor in 'seating row'
(1 day later)
Boris Johnson has sparked a row with Downing Street after claiming Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to sit next to him at a memorial service.Boris Johnson has sparked a row with Downing Street after claiming Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to sit next to him at a memorial service.
The London mayor made the claim as he tried to clear up confusion over when he first spoke to David Cameron about the arrest of Tory MP Damian Green.The London mayor made the claim as he tried to clear up confusion over when he first spoke to David Cameron about the arrest of Tory MP Damian Green.
He said he had only been able to have a brief word with Mr Cameron before being moved to the cathedral's "back row".He said he had only been able to have a brief word with Mr Cameron before being moved to the cathedral's "back row".
A Downing Street spokesman said the story was "categorically not true".A Downing Street spokesman said the story was "categorically not true".
Mr Johnson has been accused of abusing his position as head of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) after admitting contact with senior Tory colleagues on the day of Mr Green's arrest as part of a Home office leaks inquiry.Mr Johnson has been accused of abusing his position as head of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) after admitting contact with senior Tory colleagues on the day of Mr Green's arrest as part of a Home office leaks inquiry.
As chairman of the MPA, Mr Johnson was told about the arrest in advance, but he insists he only spoke to Mr Green and his party leader David Cameron after Mr Green's arrest.As chairman of the MPA, Mr Johnson was told about the arrest in advance, but he insists he only spoke to Mr Green and his party leader David Cameron after Mr Green's arrest.
'Back row''Back row'
He told the home affairs select committee he had a "perfunctory" conversation with Mr Cameron at about 1500 GMT at the service for murdered teenager Damilola Taylor at Southwark Cathedral on 27 November, the day of the arrest.He told the home affairs select committee he had a "perfunctory" conversation with Mr Cameron at about 1500 GMT at the service for murdered teenager Damilola Taylor at Southwark Cathedral on 27 November, the day of the arrest.
My recollection of the matter is that the prime minister was appalled at the idea of me sitting next to him at Southwark Cathedral Boris JohnsonMy recollection of the matter is that the prime minister was appalled at the idea of me sitting next to him at Southwark Cathedral Boris Johnson
He said: "It might have cropped up at the cathedral but whatever conversation took place was exceedingly brief since Gordon Brown decided that it would be quite wrong for me to be sitting next to him, and so I was moved somewhere else.He said: "It might have cropped up at the cathedral but whatever conversation took place was exceedingly brief since Gordon Brown decided that it would be quite wrong for me to be sitting next to him, and so I was moved somewhere else.
"So my recollection of the matter is that the prime minister was appalled at the idea of me sitting next to him at Southwark Cathedral ... and I was moved some distance into the back row."So my recollection of the matter is that the prime minister was appalled at the idea of me sitting next to him at Southwark Cathedral ... and I was moved some distance into the back row.
"So any conversation that might have taken place between me and the Leader of the Opposition was made very perfunctory thanks to the sensitivities of our great leader.""So any conversation that might have taken place between me and the Leader of the Opposition was made very perfunctory thanks to the sensitivities of our great leader."
Both politicians spoke at the service to mark the eighth anniversary of the killing of the 10-year-old from Peckham, also attended by celebrities and other families who have lost children to knife and gun crime.Both politicians spoke at the service to mark the eighth anniversary of the killing of the 10-year-old from Peckham, also attended by celebrities and other families who have lost children to knife and gun crime.
Asked whether the prime minister had asked to have Mr Johnson moved from his row in the Cathedral, his official spokesman said: "There was never any instruction from the prime minister to suggest that he should or should not."Asked whether the prime minister had asked to have Mr Johnson moved from his row in the Cathedral, his official spokesman said: "There was never any instruction from the prime minister to suggest that he should or should not."
But a spokesman for Mr Johnson said he stood by his account of events, saying it was "undoubtedly true" that seating plans for the service had been changed at a late stage.But a spokesman for Mr Johnson said he stood by his account of events, saying it was "undoubtedly true" that seating plans for the service had been changed at a late stage.
Evidence 'error' Clarification
After giving evidence on Tuesday to the select committee, Mr Johnson is understood to have recalled that he had spoken to Mr Cameron by telephone three hours earlier than their Southwark Cathedral encounter.After giving evidence on Tuesday to the select committee, Mr Johnson is understood to have recalled that he had spoken to Mr Cameron by telephone three hours earlier than their Southwark Cathedral encounter.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz has asked Mr Johnson to clarify his account. Committee chairman Keith Vaz wrote to Mr Johnson to ask him to clarify his account.
Mr Vaz has urged the mayor to "confirm whether your initial evidence or your subsequent recollection is accurate" and has asked him to reply by midday on Wednesday. In his letter, Mr Vaz said: "After the completion of the session you approached me and told me that you had contacted David Cameron earlier at 12 noon and you mentioned the words 'Ladbroke Grove Station'."
In a letter, Mr Vaz says: "You spoke to me immediately after today's committee meeting to say that you had made an error in your oral evidence concerning the time at which you had spoken to the leader of the opposition, David Cameron, about the arrest of Damian Green MP. He asked if there was any further evidence Mr Johnson wanted to put before the committee
"You gave evidence that you first had contact with David Cameron at 3pm at Southwark Cathedral on the day of Mr Green's arrest. In a statement Mr Johnson's spokesman replied: "The mayor made it clear to the select committee that he had spoken to David Cameron, but that he could not remember the exact details of when and where the conversation had taken place.
"After the completion of the session you approached me and told me that you had contacted David Cameron earlier at 12 noon and you mentioned the words 'Ladbroke Grove Station'. "He promised to check the facts at the earliest opportunity and did so - consulting a senior member of staff immediately after the hearing. He then instantly informed the chairman in the committee corridor of the Commons and then briefed the press present.
"I would be grateful if you could confirm whether your initial evidence or your subsequent recollection is accurate. "He has now written to the chairman confirming that a brief telephone conversation took place between him and the leader of the opposition while the mayor was at a press event in west London after they had both been independently told of the arrest of Damian Green.
"Please let me know if there are any further facts you wish to place before the committee. Please could you let me have your reply by 12 noon tomorrow." "This does not in any way alter the evidence given by the mayor."
Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, was arrested as part of an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office.Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, was arrested as part of an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office.
Mayor faces 'leak' inquiry