Boris Johnson has enlisted Bob Diamond, President of Barclays PLC, to help with the setting up of a Mayor’s Fund for community projects.
The planned fund would be financed by the City and is one of Johnson’s key initiatives to combat youth crime in the capital.
The announcement of Mr Diamond a major coup Johnson who has been facing repeated calls to name the team which would work with him to deliver his vision for the capital if he wins in two weeks time.
Yesterday Mr Johnson said “11 teenagers have been murdered on the streets of this city this year, with the Mayor’s Fund I believe we can make sure there are more alternatives for young people to joining gangs.”
“I am passionate about the success of the Fund which I think will bring about a real difference to the lives of many in London.”
In a related development Ken Livingstone has added his voice to the growing demands for Johnson name his top team.
Last night Mr Livingstone said “No one, clearly not even Boris Johnson, believes he can run London. That is the real meaning of the rising clamour for Boris Johnson to name a team for running London in the unlikely event he wins the Mayoral election on 1st May.”
The Mayor’s strategy is to convince Londoners that a vote for Johnson is a leap into the unknown and that the failure to name a team now will lead to weeks or months of stalled delivery until positions are filled.
Seeking to draw a clear distinction with his rival Livingstone confirmed he would keep Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy and London Underground Managing Director Tim O’Toole and would “support Sir Ian Blair as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. ”
“This is a team with a totally proven record of delivery for London – and Londoners know I can deliver for London from the last eight years.”
