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London campaign descends into mire amid corruption claims

15/02/2008

An aide to London mayor Ken Livingstone has demanded corruption allegations against him be referred to the Metropolitan police.

Lee Jasper, adviser on equality and policing, has been suspended but Mr Livingstone says he has every confidence he will emerge exonerated from the "malignant political charade".

The Evening Standard alleges organisations linked to Mr Jasper have received millions of pounds in funding while doing very little in return. Mr Jasper denies any wrongdoing.

"I believe this investigation will exonerate Lee Jasper and show this to be a shameful campaign," the London mayor said.

Conservative mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said millions of pounds of taxpayers' money had been "wasted or trousered by cronies of the mayor".

Mr Livingstone's campaign responded with allegations that Mr Johnson supplied a journalist's address so a "fraudster" could beat the journalist up.