This morning at his press conference Guido asked Ed Miliband specifically about Ken’s tax avoiding arrangements. Ed Miliband claimed that Boris used a “similar scheme” to that used by Ken – a claim first made by Ken Livingstone himself on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show this Sunday. Boris is really not happy to be accused of tax dodging.

This afternoon we asked Boris specifically about his tax arrangements. Here is his angry answer in full:

Dear Guido,

You have asked about my business affairs and tax arrangements. Specifically do I have any company or other arrangements constructed to enable me to pay less tax and do I, as has been claimed by the Labour Mayoral candidate and the Opposition Leader, have the same arrangements as Labour’s Mayoral candidate.

The answer is simple and unequivocal in both cases. No.

My salary as Mayor is taxed as an employee of the GLA. In the same way as when I was an MP my salary was taxed as an employee. Any other income that I have received from outside endeavours has been received on a self-employed basis, to me as an individual (no company or other structure has been involved). No income earned by me has ever been paid to a “service” company, through which a person or person’s freelance earnings can be channeled so that they pay corporation rather than income tax.

To suggest otherwise is a complete and utter fabrication.

Of course the real point is not about my tax arrangements. It is about the hypocrisy of a man who for years has railed against those who use special arrangements to reduce their tax and who has then been caught – bang to rights – doing the very same thing himself.

Boris Johnson

Looks like Ed Miliband owes Boris an apology…