Deputy Mayors: Boris Johnson Will Have "Lots"

The appointment of the social entrepreneur, pastor and ex-young offenders Governor Ray Lewis as "a Deputy Mayor" (Telegraph, Pic Justin Sutcliffe) has caused a great hurrahing in some quarters, and not a little harumphing in others. Such as in comments on that previous link.

Not mind you about Ray's achievements or potential contribution. Though there will always be a debate about the segregation / separate development model whoever is practising it*. The CV provided by the Mayor's press office is a bit sketchy. But what there is of it looks grand (below).

When he was starting his Academy (2001/2) Ray's gut feeling about the Tories as confided to The New Statesman this year was as follows:

I couldn't stand the Conservatives. I thought they were all a bunch of greedy bastards.

Good stuff from an ordained pastor! Though IDS it seems turned him. Let's hope he's turned again by the Bullingdon posse.

So what's the controversy?

Well, although this experiment of Ray's is taking place in the Socialist Republic of Newham, aided and abetted by DfS funds passported through the LEA, FEFC and LSC funds inter alia there is an attempt to badge it otherwise.

Iain Dale's natural sectarianism I suppose, and I should talk!, whereas Cassilis explains that is is Johnson's and Cameron's and Blair's perceived non-sectarianism (apoliticalism?) vs Brown's alleged tribalism that appeals.

But isn't there but one Deputy Mayor in the usual scheme? Whether there is an attempt to pass it round between parties - with the Greens and Labour accepting - as in Ken's first term. Or whether it is held by co-idealogue as in Ken's second term.

Speaking to the press office I find that Boris Johnson is planning to appoint a good few of these "Deputy Mayors", essentially renaming the "Mayor's Advisor" positions of the old regime. There doesn't seem to be any clarity on how many of them there will be

But the title was compared by an insider to a Corporate Vice-President. There was a little further comment on the potential for confusion through using the same title as the Assembly position for say 20 such "Deputy Mayors"?

This brought the view that: "It won't be as many as that." Which is I suppose reminiscent of Clegg's evasion on the sexual profligacy question.

At the time of writing it is unclear whether these folk will attract salaries in the same six-figure ball park as their predecessors. And in Ray's specific case whether he will be leaving his work at the Eastside Young Leaders Academy. Here's the thumbnail CV:

Ray was born in Guyana in 1963 and attended schools in Walthamstow. He began his career working as an administrative officer for the Civil Service before becoming a Clerk in Holy Orders for the Church Commissioners in 1990. During this time he gained a degree in Theology & Pastoral Studies from Middlesex University.

After working at HM Prison Woodhill, Milton Keynes, Ray became Executive Director of Eastside Young Leaders' Academy in 2001. He is also a Trustee and Governor of the Petchey Academy in Hackney and a Justice of the Peace.

His motto is: "We see no shortage of young black males in the courtrooms, so my vision is to seek to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms."

Ray is married to Pamela and they have three daughters aged between 16 and 21.

Other inspirational leaders to whom Cameron has cosied up include the doyens of the United Estates of Wythenshawe project - also supported by Tory-linked city charities - and his candidate in Whalley Range was, delightfully I'm sure, in cahoots with Hizb_ut-Tahrir.

* FASCIST REACTION: Here's Stormfront.org. Not for the faint-hearted.