On the 24th October, the Government finished its so-called consultation with London on the form and function of the proposed Greater London Authority (GLA). This was the date for people to respond to the Green Paper titled New Leadership For London. There has been much widespread criticism of the secrecy of the consultation process. Many libraries reported not having the full paper and the sparsely-distributed leaflets gave little information on the proposals being made.
While certain organisations, predominantly from the world of big business, were kept closely informed and their views actively sought, ordinary Londoners have only been made aware of the issues through TV programmes and press stories largely focusing on the trivial question of which personality might become London’s first directly elected Mayor. Nick Raynsford, Minister for London, sharply rebutted any criticism with meaningless soundbites such as “We were elected as New Labour — we will govern as New Labour.”’ But what does that mean? In the Green Paper the Government proposes an assembly elected by proportional representation. Yet it does not state how this dovetails into the local authority structures. Does this mean all London boroughs will be represented on the new assembly?
It is proposed that the GLA should be given a budget, but not have tax-raising powers. Yet if a London-wide authority is to make an impact on such fundamental issues as traffic gridlock and environmental enhancement, the ability to set “green taxes” must be given. London is crying out for city-wide measures to tackle the crisis in our fire service, hospitals and housing. Yet the proposals give no real indication on how the GLA will work in partnership with local borough councils to co-ordinate much needed action.
Instead the Green Paper concentrates on directly electing a Mayor who would be aided by “advisers” who would set proposals and budgets for the assembly to either approve or amend. Just three days after the consultation process ended, the Government printed the bill to enable a referendum to be called on Thursday 7th May 1998. Despite numerous submissions pointing out the weakness of the proposals, no amendments were made. The Government will only be asking one question on whether Londoners want a directly elected Mayor and a Greater London Assembly.
The Campaign for a People’s London was launched in October at the House of Commons. Ken Livingstone MP was joined by community and trade union representatives and the Greater London Pensioners Association. It was the public launch of a demand for a multiple choice referendum:
It was pointed out that, under the Government’s proposals the democratic rights given to the people of Edinburgh will be denied to the people of London.
The campaign seeks to draw together progressive London organisations to unite against the imposition of a “Boss Mayor”, a toothless and bureaucratic assembly and subservience to big business. We need to be a network of diversity, setting out a programme of protest and campaigning at every level. Initiated by the Greater London Association of Trades Councils, it has already drawn support from voluntary sector and community organisations, pensioners, trade unions, Constituency Labour Parties, transport activists and health campaigners.
After 18 years of Tory administration London’s various interest groups have been marginalised. The GLA referendum has the potential to unite and co-ordinate active democracy.