Minister defends ban on 'Boris'

Mr Johnson is commonly referred to by his first name alone

Minister Tessa Jowell has defended asking other ministers not to refer to the Conservative London mayoral candidate simply as "Boris".

The Sunday Times reported Ms Jowell told senior figures they would pay £5 each time they used his first name.

Later she told Sky News it was not part of a political strategy, but she wanted to avoid the election becoming a joke.

Meanwhile Boris Johnson has claimed his opponents are "ruthlessly" misrepresenting his policies.

He told the Sunday Telegraph: "There's been lots of sub-radar stuff, really abusive. They've read every column I've ever written to see if they can find something to turn into a smear about a position I don't hold.

"I was quite surprised by the complete intellectual dishonesty in some of the ways they've tried to misrepresent me."

'No joke'

A spokeswoman for Mr Livingstone's campaign responded: "Boris Johnson uniquely claims it is a smear to quote what he actually said .... it is scarcely a smear to say what he actually stood for."

Ms Jowell, the minister in charge of Labour's mayoral campaign, has told colleagues not to refer to Mr Johnson solely by his first name.

The Sunday Times reported it was because the government feared making him appear too charismatic and popular.

Asked about the policy, Ms Jowell told Sky News: "To turn this into a political strategy is just ridiculous. What we have to avoid is a situation where people think this election is a joke and that the future of London is not serious.

"Our argument, made publicly at every possible turn, is that Boris Johnson's policies for London are not serious."

Mr Johnson, like his Labour rival Ken Livingstone, is one of only a handful of politicians widely recognised by his first name.

An opinion poll out last Thursday suggests the two men are neck-and-neck in the race to become London's mayor, a position Mr Livingstone has held since 2000.

The Guardian/ICM survey of 1,002 adults put Mr Johnson ahead with 42% of first choice votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 41% and Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick's 10%.

There are 10 candidates for the mayoral election on 1 May. The Greens, UK Independence Party, the British National Party, Christian Choice, Left List, English Democrats and one independent also got through the nominations process.