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Today the @LondonAssembly marks its 20th anniversary.
It was created to hold the @MayorofLondon to account.
However, in the last 20 years as the Mayor& #39;s role has massively grown, the London Assembly& #39;s power has stayed the same.
Here& #39;s what needs to change
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> 1/11
It was created to hold the @MayorofLondon to account.
However, in the last 20 years as the Mayor& #39;s role has massively grown, the London Assembly& #39;s power has stayed the same.
Here& #39;s what needs to change
If London is going to have a directly-elected Mayor, it needs a dedicated and powerful London Assembly.
Without the Assembly, the Mayor would go unchallenged and inevitably the lack of scrutiny would lead to poorer, lazier decisions from City Hall. 2/11
Without the Assembly, the Mayor would go unchallenged and inevitably the lack of scrutiny would lead to poorer, lazier decisions from City Hall. 2/11
However, despite the importance of the London Assembly, it is struggling to keep up with the Mayor& #39;s role.
In Khan& #39;s term alone, his budget has increased by about £2bn with 300+ extra staff. In comparison, the Assembly& #39;s budget sits at £8.4m with only two extra staff. 3/11
In Khan& #39;s term alone, his budget has increased by about £2bn with 300+ extra staff. In comparison, the Assembly& #39;s budget sits at £8.4m with only two extra staff. 3/11
In comparison to international examples, the London Assembly is a weak scrutiny body https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten"> New York& #39;s City Council can amend the budget with a simple majority & initiate legislation.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇦" title="Flagge von Kanada" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Kanada"> Toronto& #39;s City Council can even impose taxes.
The power gap is startling. 4/11
The power gap is startling. 4/11
To do its job, the London Assembly needs greater powers to hold the Mayor of London to account.
This would not weaken the Mayor but strengthen London& #39;s regional government at City Hall. There are five things that must happenhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> 5/11
This would not weaken the Mayor but strengthen London& #39;s regional government at City Hall. There are five things that must happen
The current 2/3rd majority needed grants the Mayor excessive power over the Assembly and clearly does not make for good governance. 6/11
Combined with greater budgetary powers for the Assembly, this office would ensure that the budgetary process is more accountable. After Khan& #39;s recent bailouts and concerns over City Hall& #39;s finances, this office is needed. 7/11
At the moment, the Mayor has the sole responsibility to decide the outcome of planning applications when they are referred to him. A committee would provide greater transparency & scrutiny. 8/11
Granting this power to the London Assembly would act as a democratic safeguard against the unconstrained exercise of executive power. 9/11
This is the main opportunity for the Assembly to question the Mayor directly, but it happens too little. MQT should be reformed so that it occurs twice a month, which will allow each session to be shorter, sharper and more engaging. 10/11
The Assembly urgently needs greater powers to scrutinise London& #39;s increasingly unaccountable Mayor.
A weak Assembly and powerful Mayor is an unsustainable democratic disaster.
Twenty years on, the Assembly is needed more than ever, but it is in dire need of reform. 11/11
A weak Assembly and powerful Mayor is an unsustainable democratic disaster.
Twenty years on, the Assembly is needed more than ever, but it is in dire need of reform. 11/11
