Boris Johnson takes over young people's agenda in London

The Mayor has said young people are the most “urgent and key” priority for his administration.

Lewis, who was appointed deputy Mayor for young people by Johnson, resigned following allegations concerning financial and sexual misconduct during the 1990s. It also transpired he was not, as originally believed, a fully-fledged magistrate.

Johnson backed Lewis after the allegations emerged but announced an independent inquiry, to be led by Barnardo’s chief executive Martin Narey.

The inquiry has now been dropped. A spokeswoman for Barnardo’s said she had no comment to make. “Boris Johnson approached us, not the other way round,” she said.

Johnson said: “I cannot deny that my confidence in Ray was shaken by the discovery that he is not a fully fledged Justice of the Peace and I cannot deny that to be misled on this issue has made it harder for me to give Ray the backing necessary to continue in his role as deputy Mayor.”