Norris unrepentant over Jarvis role

Jarvis interim chairman and Tory London mayor candidate Steve Norris is unrepentant about his role with the firm.

In an interview in today's Times, Norris said: "I am proud of the company that I chair. I believe that their reputation is not justified, but I understand why those reputatiosn are occasionally garnered and therefore part of my job is to ensure that we change that to some degree."

Discussing his decision to accept the role rather than concentrate on his mayoral campaign, Norris said: "Had I resigned from the board, the words 'rat' and 'sinking ship' would have appeared in the same sentence."

He did not rule out becoming Jarvis chairman on a permanent basis should he lose the contest for London mayor.