Boris Johnson’s "foreign embassies" in Delhi and Mumbai have been mothballed amid claims the move will cost London millions of pounds of new business, it emerged today.

The Mayor has revealed that the London Development Agency offices in India have not been staffed since last year. He said the operations – which generate inward investment, jobs, students and tourism for the capital – were under review.

Labour Assembly member Murad Qureshi said: "It is disgraceful that the closure of the GLA’s offices in India has been carried out by the back door, without Londoners being informed about the decision to mothball them.

"Developing economies like India’s have grown in global importance due to their having escaped the worst of the recession. The Mayor’s decision to allow the Mumbai and Delhi offices to close is utterly irresponsible." read more