Boris loses another deputy Mayor
By Ian Dunt
Boris Johnson has lost another deputy Mayor following a string of damaging revelations about his use of his corporate credit card.
Ian Clement, the deputy mayor for government and external relations, resigned this morning in a letter to the Mayor.
Mr Clement has already paid back many of the costs of the misuse of the card, but his actions severely damaged the Mayor, after he based so much of his campaign against Ken Livingstone on financial wrongdoing.
A short statement from Mr Johnson's office read: "Ian Clement, deputy mayor for government and external relations, has resigned from the Greater London Authority (GLA) with immediate effect.
"He tendered his resignation to the Mayor of London this morning following the discovery of further discrepancies in the use of his corporate credit card.
"The Mayor has accepted Mr Clement's resignation. His position will be filled in due course."
Green Assembly member Darren Johnson said: "The announcement is no surprise given the questions surrounding the use of his corporate credit card, but there are still lots of questions that need answering.
"Assembly members will certainly want to know why it has taken so long for this to be dealt with and what checks are in place to prevent it happening again."
Mr Clement now joins deputy chief of staff James McGrath, deputy mayor Ray Lewis and first deputy mayor Time Parker in departing Mr Johnson's administration. Mr Parker left after discovering he would not chair Transport for London.
Read the full text of the letter to Mr Johnson , and his reply, below:
Dear Boris,/b>,
Having considered my position over the weekend and in light of our conversation this morning I am formally tendering my resignation as deputy mayor for government and external relations.
It has been a pleasure to work for you and I am sorry that I have let you down and deflected away from the excellent work you and indeed your team are doing in delivering for Londoners.
Best Wishes
Ian Clement
Dear Ian,
Thank you for your letter of resignation, which I accept with immediate effect.
As you know, I was extremely angry at the liberties you took with your corporate credit card; but last week I made the essential distinction between behaviour that is crass and anything that amounts to dishonesty or deception. In the light of the further discrepancies in your expenses that have emerged this morning, it is clear to both of us that your position is untenable.
Thank you for all your hard work in the year you have spent here. You played a major part in helping to extend the Freedom Pass for 24 hours across London, and in pioneering Open London, and in launching the City Charter.
Best wishes,
Yours ever,
Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
