Ex-mayor rejects Met race claim

Ken Livingstone said Sir Ian Blair had done much for diversity in the Met

The former mayor of London has dismissed claims from Britain's highest ranking Asian officer that the head of the Metropolitan Police is racist.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has brought an employment tribunal claim against Sir Ian Blair, accusing him of racial discrimination.

But Ken Livingstone defended Sir Ian, insisting he has made a positive contribution to diversity in the Met.

Mr Ghaffur's solicitor said the former mayor's support was misplaced.

He said Mr Ghaffur had been sidelined in his role as head of security for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Here's somebody who's got incredible flak for pushing the equalities agenda Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London

The employment tribunal claim also includes claims of religious discrimination.

But Mr Livingstone said he knew Sir Ian was "not a racist".

"Here's somebody who's got incredible flak for pushing the equalities agenda.

"What we have here is a quite simple situation. Tarique had done his 30 years and would like an extension and he would have liked to have been the supremo right up to the Olympics.

"It was never on the cards. Even before we won the Olympics the acceptance was the Government would be the boss in all this."

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Mr Ghaffur's solicitor, Dr Shahrokh Mireskandari, said the former mayor's defence of Sir Ian was wrong.

"You blindly support Sir Ian Blair," he said.

"The issue about Tarique being in charge of the Olympics - he got praise from everybody that he is the right man and in writing and also he was promised to be the Deputy by Sir Ian Blair himself, so please don't say he just didn't make it. Sir Ian Blair himself had promised him the job."