Deputy mayor in 'bottom pat' probe stays in post

 
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson walks along Goldhawk Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London with Hammersmith and Fulham Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh after making a speech at the Broadway Centre homeless drop-in facility in Shepherd's Bush, west London.
Lindsay Watling13 December 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Pressure was growing on Boris Johnson to suspend his deputy mayor for policing today after claims he inappropriately touched a female colleague.

The Mayor has ordered an investigation into claims that Stephen Greenhalgh allegedly patted the junior staff member’s bottom in a City Hall lift.

Mr Greenhalgh, who oversees the Met, says he has “no recollection” of the incident but issued an apology.

The Mayor batted away questions at People’s Question Time in Stratford last night about whether Mr Greenhalgh was capable of doing his job.

He said: “The case relates to a young member of staff in City Hall who was very keen for it not to become public. She was very keen not to have a complaint of any kind but the story is there.

“I have done what you would expect me to do. Given the fact there is no avoiding the publicity surrounding it, I have asked the monitoring officer at the Greater London Authority… to look into it.” The investigation is expected to take a couple of days.

But Len Duvall, Labour leader in London, said: “Due to the seriousness of these allegations the Mayor should suspend Mr Greenhalgh from his position of deputy mayor for policing and crime while this investigation is under way.”

City Hall insiders said Mr Greenhalgh, a 46-year-old father of three, had not been suspended because the review was not a formal disciplinary process.

No official complaint has been lodged but the woman discussed what happened with senior colleagues.

Labour, Lib-Dem and Green politicians said Mr Greenhalgh should be sacked if the claims are confirmed.

City Hall sources said it was “very much business as usual” for the deputy mayor today. He attended a regular dinner with Met police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe last night.

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