A close aide of Ken Livingstone is facing demands for his resignation after e-mails showed his involvement in controversial projects funded with millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
Lee Jasper, the Mayor of London’s adviser, sent correspondence to the London Development Agency (LDA) asking it to provide funds for schemes run by his friends, documents show.
The e-mails appear to contradict previous claims by Mr Jasper that he had not taken a significant role in funding projects that have produced little and are subject to a police inquiry.
Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor, said: “From the evidence that I have seen it appears to me that Mr Jasper’s position is untenable.”
The e-mails were released by council officers to London Assembly members who were conducting their own investigation into eight grant-aided schemes worth £3.3 million. It includes references to e-mails written by or about Mr Jasper that refer to Brixton Base, a black community organisation of which he is the patron.
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At the end of a ten-week lease on part of an agency-run building in Ken-nington, South London, the organisation, run by Eroll Walters, a close friend of Mr Jasper, was issued with eviction proceedings. An e-mail from June 2006 shows that Mr Jasper ordered council officials to halt the eviction. By the end of August the LDA had awarded Brixton Base more than £205,000 and a lease. The report states that it is not known how this project was approved.
Mr Livingstone told BBC London News on December 5 that “every penny can be accounted for”. Yesterday he admitted that much of the paperwork was missing.
Six LDA-funded projects are under investigation by the Metropolitan Police. They are Green Badge Taxi School, Diversity International, Desh-bangla, European Federation of Black Women Business Owners, Brixton Base and Ethnic Mutual.