Livingstone says story of party fight a Tory plot by newspaper

Mayor makes unprecedented personal statement, claiming the 'Evening Standard' is plotting to replace him

Ken Livingstone denied yesterday he had assaulted a man at a drunken party and accused the newspaper that broke the story of plotting to replace him with a Tory as Mayor of London. In an unprecedented personal statement, Mr Livingstone said the London Evening Standard had falsely claimed that he assaulted 35-year-old Robin Hedges at a late-night party.

He also denied claims that he had "manhandled" Emma Beal, his pregnant partner and office manager, at the party or that he had disappeared before police arrived at the incident in north London.

Last week, the newspaper claimed the Mayor had been involved in a "tussle" with Mr Hedges seconds before the man fell 15ft over a wall and suffered serious injuries to his back, hip and head.

It also alleged that the row centred on Mr Livingstone's anger at Ms Beal smoking at the party and claimed that he shouted foul-mouthed abuse at those who tried to intervene.

Until yesterday, the Mayor's office had refused to comment on the claims, other than stating that the incident was "a simple accident" and it never commented on his private life.

But Mr Livingstone used his regular appearance before the Greater London Assembly's question time to read out a statement giving his first public reaction to the claims.

The Mayor, who was heckled by a protester holding up a copy of the newspaper story during his statement, said he had always vowed never to sue, no matter how "scurrilous or inaccurate" reports may be. He said the Standard's report was "one of the most inaccurate and distorted articles I have seen about myself".

Mr Livingstone pointed to a statement by Mr Hedges that his fall was "an accident" and it was "false to suggest that anyone else was involved".

He also said that Women's Aid, a charity which was allegedly critical of him, had verified for itself that the claims about his assaulting Ms Beal, were "without foundation". The Standard had accused him of "disappearing before the arrival of the police". Mr Livingstone said: "I did not leave until after both the police and London Ambulance Service had arrived."

The Mayor said Ms Beal had never sought publicity and never set herself up as a public figure and urged newspapers to "stop their harassment" of his partner and her family. "The Evening Standard has made the accusations because it has set itself the goal of getting a Tory Mayor of London elected," he said. "It knows it cannot achieve this goal on the grounds of quality and is therefore resorting to unfounded personal smears. It is clear from this and other recent coverage that the Standard will spend the next two years pursuing this agenda to get a Tory imposed on London."

But a spokeswoman for the Evening Standard said it stood by its report entitled "Truth About Mayor's Big Party Bust-Up" last week and dismissed as "nonsense" claims that the reports were politically motivated.

"We conducted a thorough investigation into the events that occurred the evening of the party and spoke to a number of eye witnesses," she said.

In a detailed rebuttal of his statement, the newspaper countered that Mr Hedges, one of its employees, had said after the incident: "This was a horrible business and I'm still trying to get over it and come to terms with what happened both mentally and physically. Emma [Bea] is my closest friend and I don't want to do anything that might upset her."

It also claimed that witnesses said Mr Livingstone had left the scene after he initially tried to rouse Mr Hedges, saying, "Get up. You're all right, mate". The paper pointed out that the Mayor had not explained why London Ambulance Service had received a call saying that a fight was in progress or why police were called to the scene.

Mr Livingstone's statement drew scorn from Brian Coleman, the deputy leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives. "It is outrageous that the Mayor can try to make this into a party political issue. It is an absolute disgrace that he is saying that this is about getting a Tory voted in," he said. "The Mayor's personal life is his personal life but to suggest it is some sort of Tory or Evening Standard plot is ridiculous."

What the mayor is accused of

PERSONAL RELATIONS

The Mayor was attacked when he watered down rules against office romances months before it was disclosed he was dating his own office manager.

He vetoed a clause in his staff's draft code of conduct which stated: "Close personal familiarity (eg personal friendships, sexual relationships or regular social interaction) can damage the working relationship and prove embarrassing to colleagues and should be avoided."

The London Assembly's standards committee agreed to the change. Mr Livingstone's new partner, Emma Beal, is pregnant.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS

The AA and RAC said the Mayor had approved changes to traffic light timings to create chaos. More lights are on red for longer, and pedestrians have more time to cross. Critics said the Mayor would change the lights back when his congestion charge plan was introdued to make it more popular. Charging begins on 17 February with drivers paying £5 a day to enter eight square miles of London's centre.

A ring of 200 cameras will scan 40,000 number plates an hour.

Transport for London say the change is to help pedestrians. Mr Livingstone denied the changes were connected to the congestion charge. The Tories said Derek Turner, his traffic director, had made the link in private.

BULLYING

The Assembly also raised claims of "bullying" by Mr Livingstone's advisers. Its appointments committee was told the Mayor's team intimidated Assembly staff, after an anonymous e-mail complained about named advisers.