Hi °C | Lo °C Boris Johnson launched an expletive-laden attack on the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee after being criticised for giving confused evidence, it was revealed yesterday.
The Mayor of London accused Keith Vaz of talking "bull****" and making him look like a "f****** fool" during a heated telephone call.
The rant emerged publicly after the Leicester East MP circulated a transcript of the conversation to committee colleagues, having apparently taped it without Mr Johnson’s knowledge.
One member, who did not want to be named, likened the Mayor’s language to "something you would hear from Gordon Ramsay".
Mr Johnson’s relations with the committee have been deteriorating since he initially declined to give evidence in person for their inquiry into the arrest of Tory frontbencher Damian Green.
When he did eventually agree, on February 3, he was criticised for failing to prepare properly. During the evidence session, the mayor — who is also chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority — initially denied speaking to David Cameron about Mr Green’s arrest on the day it happened.
He later confirmed the pair spoke "briefly" about the issue that afternoon, and then remembered he had talked to the Tory leader by telephone as well. Mr Vaz described the changes as a "serious matter" and asked him to clarify his account in writing.
Tensions escalated on the evening of February 4, when Mr Johnson saw Mr Vaz on television suggesting that he may be recalled to give further evidence because of the discrepancies. He called Mr Vaz at 7.10pm, allegedly saying their public interventions made him "so f****** angry".
According to the transcript — which is disputed by Mr Johnson — he raged: "You have gone on television and connived to give the impression that I f*****g tipped off David Cameron. You are trying to make me look like a f*****g fool."
Mr Vaz subsequently sent the mayor a letter on behalf of the committee, expressing concern about "the level of respect and courtesy you have shown in providing evidence and in your subsequent communications".
Mr Johnson wrote back yesterday stating: "Please be assured I mean no disrespect to the committee and I made a special effort to attend last week on a busy day."
The mayor’s aides yesterday said it was "disappointing" details of the exchanges had been leaked.
"The Mayor made his points forcefully and once or twice used strong language, because he believes he has been co-operative on issues of concern to the committee. Despite this, Mr Vaz has repeatedly suggested otherwise."
