It was only three weeks ago that Ken Livingstone said that he would trust Lee Jasper with his life. Yesterday he cut him adrift.

Brutal political calculation made the decision to suspend his race and police adviser inevitable. Internal Labour polling suggests that Mr Livingstone is still on course for victory at the election on May 1.

Mr Livingstone, a veteran of two mayoral campaigns, knows how damaging it could be should the electorate focus on his administration of the London Development Agency. Allegations of financial irregularity in publicly funded organisations run by associates of Mr Jasper have prompted six investigations by the Metropolitan Police.

When called before his would-be tormentors this month Mr Livingstone gave a command performance. But with another session scheduled on March 4, and the prospect of further e-mails and documents detailing the manner in which money was distributed by the agency, it was clear that Mr Jasper had to go.

In many ways it is only a surprise that Mr Livingstone has been able to fend off suspending his close adviser for so long.

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