Bishop U-turn on Boris Johnson aide

The Church of England today admitted it was wrong to claim Boris Johnson was warned in person over his disgraced former deputy.

The move prompted senior Tories to brand the Church "reckless" in putting out incorrect information.

The Church suggested over the weekend that the Mayor had been told of allegations made against Ray Lewis during an event at Millwall football stadium on 11 May.

It claimed the Bishop of Barking, the Rt Rev David Hawkins, spoke to the Mayor about his deputy, who resigned on Friday after a series of allegations emerged about his time as a vicar in West Ham.

But today a spokesman admitted the conversation did not take place. The Rev Chris Newlands, chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford, which includes the Barking diocese, said: "I had a conversation with the Bishop of Barking and that is what he told me [that the bishop had a conversation with Mr Johnson about Mr Lewis] and that is what I reported.

"But when the Mayor questioned him [about the conversation], I went back to the bishop and he said he didn't think he did."

The Church now admits the only warning it gave to Mr Johnson was in a letter sent on 13 May, headed "Global day of Prayer".

In the sixth paragraph, Bishop Hawkins wrote: "As you probably know, your deputy mayor Ray Lewis was a Church of England clergyman in my Episcopal area in the Nineties.

"He is no longer serving in authorised ministry in the Church of England. If at any point you wish to speak to me about this do be in touch."

Mr Newlands accepted today that "with hindsight" the paragraph could have been more prominently placed. He added: "We never knew it would blow up the way it has.

"You cannot make an allegation without being absolutely sure you have everything backed up, so writing between the lines is a standard way of saying we need to have a conversation about this."

A senior Tory at City Hall said today: "The Church were careless and indeed, dare I say, reckless, in that they suggested and allowed reporters to draw the conclusion that the Bishop of Barking had issued a specific warning to the Mayor of London about Ray Lewis.

"Boris has no recollection of that conversation. The Bishop himself has subsequently confirmed that the only thing they did was exchange pleasantries.

"It's really quite appalling." Another source added: "If the Church was that concerned about this why did they never call the police?"

Mr Lewis stood down on Friday after the Evening Standard revealed he had misled the public by saying he was a magistrate.

It followed allegations of financial impropriety and sexual harassment, which he vigorously denies.

Mayoral aides insist Mr Johnson is "pressing on" with business undeterred. The Mayor's spokesman denied City Hall was in chaos and said Mr Johnson stood by his decision to appoint Mr Lewis as deputy mayor for young people.

He said an independent inquiry into the affair had been abandoned because the Mayor could not justify the expense.

The Mayor will now take charge of Mr Lewis's agenda of setting up "boot camp"-style Saturday schools for troubled teenagers.