Boris Johnson's ousted deputy Richard Barnes today dismissed his election defeat as “a bit of rough”.
Mr Barnes was one of two high-profile Tories to lose their place on the London Assembly following a dire night for Conservatives in the local elections across the country.
Mr Barnes was narrowly unseated in Ealing by local GP Dr Onkar Sahota.
Tory Brian Coleman, the chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, lost his Barnet and Camden seat to former MP Andrew Dismore.
Mr Barnes blamed his defeat on the coalition government and a Labour campaign against “fictitious” plans to close Ealing Hospital.
He told the Standard: “You can’t complain about democracy when you lose. I have to take the rough with the smooth and it’s my time for a bit of rough. I don’t have a Plan B.
“You fight to win, and if that doesn’t work out you take stock afterwards. I’ve spoken to Boris twice since the results came through.
“We’re both delighted that he beat Ken Livingstone. If my loss in any way contributed to Ken’s downfall I’m overjoyed.”
He added: “There’s an enormous amount of fear in the community and the Government doesn’t seem to be offering people any hope. Boris and his policies to create jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities are doing something positive to give people hope, and that matters.”
Mr Coleman, 50, who retains a place on Barnet council, would not comment today, slamming the front door of his two-bedroom flat.
He was unseated after voters held him responsible for parking price rises in Barnet, and he also faced questions over his expenses claims at City Hall.
The inquest into why Friday’s count was so badly delayed — the result was announced just before midnight after two batches of ballot papers were “lost” in Brent and Harrow — is continuing.
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London Elects, which organised the election, blamed local staff but Gareth Daniel, the chief executive of Brent council, has accused them of painting a “limited and misleading picture” of the delays.
