London mayoral elections 2008: Q&A
Who’s being elected?
Actually, there are two elections: Mayor of London and the London Assembly, both taking place on the same day – Thursday May 1, 2008.
Hang on a minute... I don’t live in London. Why should I care?
If you think you’re excused just because you live outside the capital, think again. Local elections foreshadow national elections: if voters are fed up with the government, they’ll vote against that party in local elections. As such, local elections help predict – ahead of a general election – who could next control Number 10.
So how long has London had a mayor?
Not long at all, as it happens. The role was created in 2000 – the first mayor in the UK to be directly-elected, rather than appointed by a local council. Before 2000, the office of mayor was mostly a ceremonial one, but directly-elected mayors have considerably more clout, as well as an advisory committee to back them up. Elections are held every four years and there’s no limit on the number of terms the mayor of London can serve.
And how much power does this mayor of London have, exactly?
Rather a lot, it seems. Not only does he – or, indeed, she – have a budget of £9 billion at his/her disposal, the mayor also presides over transport, the fire and police services, planning, housing and promoting London’s economy. And, as time progresses, the government has pledged those powers will increase.
Is there anything the mayor doesn’t influence?
Oh, yes – although powerful, the mayor of London is far from omnipotent. Not included in the job description, for example, are responsibilities for council tax, parking fines, hospitals, schools, social services, street cleaning or recycling.
And does this mayor preside over the whole of London?
Certainly does. Unlike the Lord Mayor of London, an ancient and almost exclusively ceremonial role that covers only the City of London and its population of less than 10,000, the mayor of London is responsible for Greater London, along with its 7.5 million inhabitants.
The London Assembly: what does that do?
Made up of 25 members, all elected by Londoners, the London Assembly essentially exists to keep an eye on the mayor’s performance by monitoring his/her decisions, strategies and actions. It also has the power to block the mayor’s budget and is responsible for investigating the issues that matter to Londoners.
And who’s paying for all this, eh?
We are, mostly. The cash comes primarily from a London-wide precept on the council tax, along with grants from central government plus a small amount of extra revenue raised by the capital’s congestion charge.
Who are the main candidates?
Numerous hats have been thrown into this year’s mayoral ring, from the founder of Fathers 4 Justice to a former professional boxer, but a handful of heavyweight contenders are worthy of special mention – including the incumbent, Ken Livingstone. Labour’s official candidate, Ken has held the post since it was first created and counts among his achievements the controversial congestion charge and winning the 2012 Olympics bid. The Conservative candidate is the ever-colourful Boris Johnson, and the Lib Dems are pinning their hopes on police-officer-turned-politician, Brian Paddick. Other notable would-be mayors include the Green Party’s Sian Berry, founder of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s; Left List’s Lindsey German, a left-wing activist; and the BNP’s Richard Barnbrook, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Art.
So, who’s going to win?
Good question – and one that’s almost impossible to answer. Having clinched the first election in 2000 as an insurgent minus the usual party funding or machinery, and then won a second term as Labour's official candidate, twice mayor Ken Livingstone is being touted as almost unbeatable. That said, in early March, the bookies’ favourite was the affable Boris Johnson, with Ken a close second, followed by Brian Paddick and Sian Berry in distant third and fourth respectively.
Is there anyone else we should be keeping an eye on?
Indeed there is. If it’s theatrics you’re after, look to Matt O’Connor, the candidate for the English Democrats and founder of Fathers 4 Justice. Matt made his name as a political activist staging protests, dressed as a comic book superhero, calling for fathers’ rights to be recognised in family law. The campaign group’s most memorable moment came in 2004 when some of its members sparked a major security alert in the House of Commons by throwing purple flour bombs at Tony Blair during Prime Minister’s Questions. Another aspiring entertainer is 50-something former hairdresser/amateur boxer Winston McKenzie, a light-welterweight with at least two knock-outs to his name. The natty dresser opted to outline his policies in a rap video - Mohammed Ali-style - on YouTube. As you do.
by Laura Snook, MSN UK News Editor
March 7, 2008
