New call for Jasper probe

The Met has been asked by City Hall to reopen its investigation into mayoral aide Lee Jasper, it has emerged.

Scotland Yard issued a statement last week saying it had been unable to look into the "dodgy grants" controversy surrounding Mr Jasper as it had not received any allegations of criminal behaviour.

The matter had been referred to the Met by Ken Livingstone in what critics believed was an attempt to sideline the issue in the run-up to May's mayoral election.

Today Mr Livingstone said Janet Worth, the Greater London Authority's executive director of corporate services, had written to the Yard with details of nine charges of misconduct he believes have been published in the Standard, plus a further charge against Mr Jasper made by Tory group leader on the London Assembly Richard Barnes.

Mr Jasper, the Mayor's £120,000-a-year policing and equalities director, was suspended on full pay 11 days ago.

Evening Standard has never suggested Mr Jasper was involved in criminal activity. Mr Jasper was facing fresh claims over his conduct today as it emerged that he apparently failed to declare he was chairman of race-equality organisation Equanomics, which received £15,000 in funding from the Greater London Authority.