Ken leaves new crony in charge

Ken Livingstone sparked anger today after it was revealed that he has left another unelected "crony" in charge of London while he goes on holiday.

London Assembly members say they did not learn that Neale Coleman had taken over until receiving a letter yesterday - three days after Mr Livingstone started a two- week break in France with his pregnant partner Emma Beale.

Mr Coleman, one of the Mayor's close aides but virtually unknown to the publ i c, was chosen because both the Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron and his chief of staff Simon Fletcher are also on holiday. Mr Coleman is the third of Mr Livingstone's unelected aides to have been left in charge.

Assembly chair Trevor Phillips and leaders of its main political groups are writing to Mr Livingstone to complain. Mr Phillips said today: "I want to know why the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the chief of staff are all away at the same time."

A spokeswoman for the Mayor said Mr Livingstone would be in regular phone contact with Mr Coleman and claimed the Assembly had known what was to happen.