Boris Johnson: 'Why I banned gay cure bus ads'

Boris Johnson today said there could have been an “intense backlash” against Christians if he had allowed London buses to carry adverts suggesting gay people could be cured.

He said the ads, which he blocked last week, days before they were due to appear, would have caused “great offence”.

“The job of Mayor is to unite, to stop prejudice,” he said. “The backlash would be so intense it would not have been in the interest of Christian people in this city.” His Labour mayoral rival Ken Livingstone backed the move at a debate jointly organised by London Church Leaders, Faith to Engage and the Evangelical Alliance, saying: “In my view Boris was right to pull the ads.”

The doomed poster, by Christian group Core Issues Trust, stated: “Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud. Get over it!” and claimed therapy could change sexual orientation.

It was due to run for two weeks on five routes which passed tourist spots including St Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Mr Livingstone also denied saying, as recently claimed, that London should be a “beacon of Islam”.

As an atheist who liked a drink it was “distinctly unlikely” he would subscribe to the faith, he added. “I have said London is a beacon of tolerance under which all faiths should live.”