Johnson sacrifices deputy after new allegations

Ray Lewis, London mayor Boris Johnson's deputy, resigned last night after fresh allegations that he misled the public by claiming to be a magistrate. Lewis was already facing an independent inquiry into allegations of financial misconduct and inappropriate behaviour following a Guardian investigation and a list of questions tabled by the newspaper on Wednesday. Dismissing the allegations at a press conference earlier this week Lewis claimed he was a justice of the peace. But last night the Ministry of Justice said he had not been appointed as a magistrate. In his resignation statement Lewis said he said he could not allow things that he had been involved in to damage Johnson's administration. "It is for that reason that I must step down as deputy mayor for young people," he told reporters. Lewis's resignation is the second... [read full story]