Ken drops Gavron as deputy

Nicky Gavron was dropped today as deputy mayor by Ken Livingstone.

She is being replaced in the £67,000-a-year post by Jenny Jones, a member of the Green Party on the London Assembly. The Mayor's decision takes effect from 3 July.

Ms Gavron, who as Labour candidate for next year's mayoral elections will run against Mr Livingstone, slammed the decision saying "I think Ken's decision shows poor judgment.

"People will see this as just a piece of political windowdressing to court the Green vote, despite the Greens on the Assembly opposing many of his key policies. He is putting his campaign above the interests of Londoners."

She has held the post since May 2000.

The announcement was met with dismay by the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Eddie McDermott, the T&G's London regional secretary, said that he saw no reason for the Mayor to rotate the deputy mayoralty.

He added: "Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron has wide support and the confidence of the Labour movement in London."

The Evening Standard predicted in February that Ms Gavron may lose the post.

Mr Livingstone originally planned to rotate the post each year between the parties, but decided against giving it to the Conservatives in 2001 and was turned down by the Liberal Democrats.