• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Can I raise one other question then? Again, untypically somewhat rhetorical, which is Londoners watching this debate who were presented with the suggestion that a Labour candidate for Mayor was in some way a sort of pretuned zombie parroting the Government's line would I think go away assured that, as with any Mayor in London, you need to have a strong voice that speaks up in the interests of Londoners and tells the Government when it is wrong and that they can be assured that a strong and independent voice will continue when you are re-elected on 1 May?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

I am tempted to make party political points; I never have before of course so I will not break that precedent! What I find interesting on today's order paper is that we have motions, amendments and questions from the Conservatives and from Labour Members and we have statements from yourself. It does seem to me pretty clear that there is unanimity across the Assembly and London's political community that this is an ill advised decision and needs to be stopped. So first of all I think Labour Members of the Assembly, perhaps unsurprisingly, would have no problem in supporting a...

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

She is one of your political allies. That is the simple reality as are all your policy directors. Nothing wrong with that; that is the system.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

I think most voters in London would consider £3 million worth of public money under question here to be a key issue on which this election is being fought.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

You have been misquoted again, have you?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

So to be clear then, Mr Mayor, as far as you are concerned Lee Jasper resigned because of the so-called salacious emails and nothing else?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

There are other qualified lawyers in this building. She happens to be someone who, by the nature of her job, has worked closely with Mr Jasper and also - because policy directors, your political appointees in other words, have to be identified with your policies - is closely identified with you. Why not ask the Chief Executive, the impartial Head of Paid Service, to make the search and employ such legal advice as he thinks appropriate?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

We did and we did not get an answer and so I am asking you, Mr Mayor.

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

So you did know about all these undeclared interests; is that what you are telling us?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 12 March 2008

Finally from me, Mr Mayor, when Lee Jasper went to the United States in June last year, who paid for the predominant elements of his journey?