Ken Livingstone was back in the political spotlight yesterday, igniting controversy by deciding to act as an adviser to President Chávez of Venezuela.

The move will be seen as his latest attempt to undermine Boris Johnson, who had cancelled a deal with Venezuela reached by Mr Livingstone when he was Mayor of London.

In a visit to Caracas, Mr Livingstone announced that he would be a consultant on the capital's policing, transport and other issues. As Mayor, Mr Livingstone brokered a deal under which the Greater London Authority and Transport for London provided advice to Venezuela in exchange for cheap fuel to help with bus subsidies.

Mr Livingstone said yesterday that he was determined to keep his end of the agreement, which Mr Johnson cancelled at a cost of £7 million.

He said that his association with Mr Chávez, whom he describes as a friend, was not controversial “unless you believe American propaganda”. He said: “It's a democratic regime with a better respect for human rights than ours.”

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said that the mayor did not want to be on the payroll of Mr Chávez and did not believe that a poor South American country should be subsidising London.

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