Boris Johnson aide takes the blame for failure to vet Lewis

Under pressure: Boris Johnson with Ray Lewis at a press conference the day before the Mayor's deputy was forced to resign

Boris Johnson's former chief of staff has taken the full blame for failing to vet disgraced deputy mayor Ray Lewis.

But Nick Boles insisted Mr Lewis is a "marvellous man" and said he had "embellished" the truth when he said he was a magistrate. Mr Boles also attacked "ludicrous" red tape rules on recruiting staff and said the Mayor should be able to appoint his political allies.

He was being questioned by London Assembly members over the process of mayoral appointments. It comes after the downfall of youth worker Mr Lewis over allegations of past financial and personal misconduct, and his misleading claim to be a magistrate.

Mr Boles, who has now returned to Conservative central office to work for David Cameron, said: "There are some things we didn't do which we should have done and I regret that we didn't do them. The chief among those is doing a full background check.

"I'm not pretending we thought about it and I take full responsibility for the fact we didn't think of it. I was there to catch all the balls although I have admitted I failed to catch one or two.

"I still think that Ray Lewis is a marvellous man and he has done more good than I will in my life."

On the topic of Mr Lewis's magistrate claim, Mr Boles said: "Ray was amazed when Boris offered him the job. It was a chance he had never imagined in his life and was completely out of the context of anything he had done before. He is not a politician. He's not like us. We all know the rules of the game. In a moment of madness he wanted to make sure he was fit to be in this august position. And I have total sympathy for that but it was an idiotic thing to do.

"He embellished something hopefully that was about to be true."

Anthony Mayer, chief executive of the GLA, said he supported Mr Boles's position and said he stood "full square" behind him.

But despite Mr Boles's admission of guilt Labour members said he was being used as a scapegoat by the Mayor.

Deputy chairman of the Labour group, John Biggs, said: "It's very nice of you to come here and take the fall for Boris and to do so very graciously."

Mr Boles also said there had not been enough time to perform a full check on new appointments and said there should be a period of transition like the two months given to Ken Livingstone in 2000.

He said: "I would suggest - and this is not an attempt to evade responsibility, I take that responsibility - that in future we look at introducing a period of transition."

Labour members have also questioned the legality of Sir Simon Milton acting as an adviser before he stood down as councillor. But Mr Boles said the law was too restrictive and Mr Johnson should be able to bring in people he has known and trusted for a long time. He also questioned the quota of overtly political appointments that could be made and said confirmation hearings at which the Assembly members can question the Mayor's appointees should be abolished.

Mr Boles said: "We did everything that we could to abide by the law and by the precedent set by the previous mayor. But I happen to think that the law is a nonsense and the law should be changed.

"Any executive team needs to have a political team. I think that's right and proper. It's not something to be ashamed of. The lame idea of cronyism. Well what do you want?

"Do you want someone to come in and work you don't know and don't trust, or do you want them to bring in people who can operate like an effective machine? We did the best we could with legislature that is nonsense... did we have to take some corners on two wheels? We did."

Assembly members agreed to write to the Mayor to make sure more background checks are made, and to consider lobbying for a transition period.

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