'I'll become a two-jobs Bob,'

LONDON Assembly member Bob Neill is determined to hold onto his City Hall seat until 2008 if he wins the Bromley by-election on June 29.

Mr Neill, who has represented Bromley and Bexley on the Assembly since 2000 and now leads London's Conservatives, was selected to fight the safe seat ahead of two candidates from David Cameron's 'A-List', last Saturday night.

However, former barrister Mr Neill said he had no intention of giving up his assembly seat, which carries a £50,000-a-year pay packet.

He said: "I would stand down as leader of the Conservative group to give myself more time to continue to serve the people but a by-election for the whole of Bexley and Bromley would cost tax-payers about £250,000.

"There is a salary cut from the London Assembly as well, so you don't get double the money. That seems to me to be the fair thing and it will give the party plenty of time to find a replacement."

Mr Neill, who is 1/33 favourite with bookmaker William Hill to win the vote, said his "principal ambition" was to be a "champion for Bromley and Chislehurst", particularly on issues such as police numbers and housing density.

Mr Neill also rejected fears over his membership of the Greater London Lodge of Freemasons, declared on the GLA register of members' interests.

"I am not in the least active in that regard," he said, "like a lot of people I joined the Masons when I was younger but I have rather given up interest in it. I think it's a bit like saying 'Is there a problem being a lapsed Catholic?'.

FULL REPORT HERE - BROMLEY TIMES