Sculptors go to war with Boris

(Getty)

Leading figures from the arts world criticised Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London, and said he would be forced into an embarrassing climbdown over his pledge to scrap the competition for a temporary work of art to be placed on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square every 18 months.

Mr Johnson supports a campaign launched in March to erect a permanent statue of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, a Battle of Britain hero, on the plinth.

Mr Johnson's critics includes the culptors Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley; their works are shortlisted for the plinth.

A mayoral spokesman said that no decision had been made on the future of the competition.

Mr Gormley said: "He promised that he's going to run as new Boris. I hope that the new Boris is going to be more culturally aware."