London's Deputy Mayor, Jenny Jones, is opposed to the London Olympic bid, it emerged today.

Ms Jones, who took up the post of deputy mayor last month, would rather see the Games hosted elsewhere.

During the Mayor's question time, members of the Greater London Assembly suggested her position could weaken the London bid, after her comments reported in the Manchester Evening News on June 11 - just one day after she became deputy mayor.

Ms Jones, one of the most influential Green Party politicians in Britain, told the paper: "I am opposed to a London Olympic bid for 2012. I think a Manchester bid would be preferable, not least because Manchester has just built a lot of top-class facilities."

As questions today were directed at London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, he was forced to answer for his deputy's rejection of his backing for the London Olympics bid.

Mr Livingstone said: "Nobody works with me on the basis that there is a line they have to follow.

"Where we agree, that's fine. Where we don't agree we don't have a song and dance and whips and punishments.

"When Jenny and her party make sensible suggestions, I will accept them. When they're barking mad, I will reject them."

Jenny Jones was not given the opportunity at today's Mayor's question time to make her case.

However, she had earlier in the meeting expressed her opposition to the construction of more roads in areas intended to house new stadia for the 2012 Olympics.

Supporters of the bid advocate new highways to carry both spectators and athletes at a time when transport facilities are already under immense strain.

The Manchester Evening News also reports that Ms Jones believes the Games could harm London's economy, and that economic development should be 'spread more evenly' across the country.

Ms Jones' commments come on the same day American businesswoman Barbara Cassani was announced as the chief of the London bid team.