A press release from the GLA confirms that Boris is supporting Ray Lewis against today’s accusations. Titled Boris Johnson and Ray Lewis confront malicious allegations’ the piece repeats Boris’s press statement.
‘I believe that my deputy Mayor Ray Lewis is being made to suffer now because he has had the guts to serve in this administration and because he has had the courage to speak out against a stifling orthodoxy that has failed too many of our children. These allegations did not stop him from becoming a JP. They did not stop him from becoming an outstanding and respected prison governor. They did not stop him founding a school that has done untold good for East London children and they should not stop him from serving as my deputy Mayor.’
Some will consider Boris to be admirably strong, while others will believe him to be reckless in pre-empting the investigation, but with so little information available to us I think that we should reserve speculation on the validity of the accusations.
Update: John Biggs has stated that:
“Given the seriousness nature and sheer number of the allegations against Mr Lewis, it seems remarkable that he has not been suspended while they are investigated. Having delegated so many powers to his advisers, Londoners need to have faith in Boris Johnson’s team and his judgement.”
(H/t to The Troll for the latter quote)
Tags: 13 Comments
13 responses so far ↓
There are a lot of parallels here with the Lee Jasper thing. Mayor defending him before any investigation, allegations of financial and sexual misconduct, no firm evidence of anything yet.
I wonder what Andrew Gilligan’s take on these allegations will be? Presumably the mere existence of allegations is evidence of corruption and malpractice at the heart of Boris’s administration? Hmm…
this is one of the questions tabled by the Guardian yesterday
There appears to be a gap in your CV from when you left St Matthew’s church in West Ham in 1997 to joining the prison service in 2000, what were you doing during that time?
This had been troubling me for some time about Mr Lewis. There is also scant information about how he entered the prison service.
I assumed he entered as the Chaplain but that may or may not be true. He rose what seems to me quite quickly to being head of the youth detention centre at a larger high security prison.
This job again ended abruptly with the start of Eastside Academy.
Basically he has concerned me for some time now
also
did these allegations come up because he has had to have a CRB check with his new Deputy Mayor role?
“also
did these allegations come up because he has had to have a CRB check with his new Deputy Mayor role?”
I think that they’re the result of a Guardian investigation.
Or a BBC London investigation, or a Channel 4 News investigation. It seems to depend who you ask!
Only ITV London Tonight haven’t tried to claim any credit - they credited it to Channel 4, which in fairness is made by the same company they’re part of (ITN)
What we must ask ourselves is, is this being dug up by some disatisfied voter?
Or perhaps it is Lee Jasper via some cronie?
They, whoever they are it would appear to me do almost anything to bury Boris.
It would also not suprise me if it had come from No. 10.
Mr. Stop Boris Said, “Or a BBC London investigation, or a Channel 4 News investigation. It seems to depend who you ask!
Only ITV London Tonight haven’t tried to claim any credit - they credited it to Channel 4, which in fairness is made by the same company they’re part of (ITN)”
It has always been common knowledge that Auntie Beeb is left wing trendy http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/ so they would have a go.
As for Channel 4 it has been the case for yonks, Jon Snow making it so.
“Or a BBC London investigation, or a Channel 4 News investigation. It seems to depend who you ask!”
Well, there are definite references to a Guardian investigation and Politics Home is claiming that there multiple sources.
“Or perhaps it is Lee Jasper via some cronie?”
No, it’s the lizards.
I don’t know whether pastyface has heard of this remarkable inernet tool called ‘Google’. I used it to do a search on Ray Lewis’ so called ‘missing years that Pastyface finds so suspicious. Guess what? It came up with an answer…Ray was in a C of E minister in Grenada from 1997 to 1999 (Windward Isles Diocese).
Aw shucks, and there was you hoping he’d been doing drugs and or running a brothel.
Aye, ’tis in the Press Conference:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7488006.stm
Chunters: this hasn’t been dug up by Lee Jasper or any left-wing ‘crony’: it’s been revealed by the Church of England!
I don’t think you’d find much of a left-wing conspiracy in the Church of England (unless you’re a member of Foca, perhaps).
Surely the Church of England are trying to ’set up’ Boris to draw attention away from the Anglican’s in crisis ’cause of those gays and women
Mr Lewis entered the Prison Service as a direct entrant junior Governor grade. He was not in charge of a prison as has been made out in the press. He never rose higher than the rank of a middle manager before he left the service having spent a short time at HMP The Mount following his transfer from Woodhill.