Press Release
Boris Johnson and Ray Lewis confront malicious allegations
3-7-2008 343
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, today said:
'When I entered the contest to become Mayor of London there was one man who gave me hope and who gave me inspiration. There was one man who not only understood the problems faced by children in the deprived parts of this city, but was willing to dedicate himself, day after day, to turning their lives around.
'He didn't throw up his hands at the difficulties we face. He didn't despair at the culture of gangs and knives. He has produced genuine, original and unorthodox solutions and anyone who has been to see Eastside Young Leaders Academy will know that he is brilliant at what he does. Every weekend you will find eighty young men excluded from school, who are being encouraged to grow up as loving and responsible members of society and not gang members. Every year children who have been written off by our educational system pass through the school Ray founded and go on to great things.
'That is why I was so pleased and proud when he agreed to my be my deputy Mayor for Young People and that is why I am so determined that, in so far as there are now allegations being made about Ray’s past, they should be fully investigated. That is why I will tomorrow be announcing an independent inquiry and I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome, but let me give you my view.
'I believe that my deputy Mayor Ray Lewis is being made to suffer now because he has had the guts to serve in this administration and because he has had the courage to speak out against a stifling orthodoxy that has failed too many of our children. These allegations did not stop him from becoming a JP. They did not stop him from becoming an outstanding and respected prison governor. They did not stop him founding a school that has done untold good for East London children and they should not stop him from serving as my deputy Mayor.'
Ray Lewis, Deputy Mayor for Young People and Opportunities, said:
'Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I'm glad to speak to you this afternoon to clear the air. I'm not a saint. I speak my mind and sometimes I rub people up the wrong way. But I am not the person painted by these allegations.
'I have never harassed anyone. I have never defrauded anyone. I have never knowingly done anything that would be inconsistent with my position as a Justice of the Peace, as the founder and Director of a charity, or as someone given the awesome responsibility of caring for young children.
'I am happy to face questioning and investigation on all these charges.
'Being Deputy Mayor of London is the greatest honour of my life and I will not allow that office – or Boris' trust in me – to be tainted in any way.
'I look forward to drawing a line under this episode, so that I can get on with working to improve the lives of young people in this city.
'Thank you.'
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