Boris Johnson hosts GLA carol service at Southwark Cathedral

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd Colin Slee, welcomed the congregation to the first Greater London Authority carol service since the capital's government moved to Southwark in 2001.

"You took your time," he observed wryly.

He added: "But I personally hope that the recognition is never going to be such that we become too respectable on this side of the river. It has always had a certain radical culture and non-conformity that we should relish.

"And I am especially pleased to read in the papers today that the GLA is not subscribing to those who seek to emasculate Christmas of Christ."

The latter comment is a reference to recent publicity suggesting that the Mayor had overruled City Hall staff who wanted to avoid explicit reference to Christmas in the authority's seasonal festivities.

"I want to congratulate the GLA on having this carol service and to make sure that we don't have political correctness as the end of all civilisation."

Music at the service was provided by the Southwark Cathedral Singers and the Tribe of Judah Gospel Choir.

Readers included Lord Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, and London Assembly chair Jennette Arnold.

Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogo read John Betjeman's poem Christmas and BBC Radio Five Live political correspondent John Pienaar read a passage about Christmas 1914 in the trenches.

The congregation stood to hear Boris Johnson read the opening verses of St John's Gospel.

Even at this point it was possible to detect the Mayor's crusade against so-called political correctness.

There was momentary confusion amongst the congregation when the Mayor began to read from the traditional language King James version ("the life was the light of men") rather than the inclusive New Revised Standard Version text ("the life was the light of all people") printed in the order of service.

Members of the congregation in the packed cathedral included many of the mayors of the capital's 32 boroughs.

The London Fire Brigade commissioner Ron Dobson and Commander Simon Bray of the Metropolitan Police represented the emergency services.

Environmentalist Stanley Johnson, father of the Mayor of London, was also present.

During the service a collection was taken for the Mayor's Fund for London which was established by Boris Johnson this year to support disadvantaged children, young people and families in the city.