Mayor's Powers to Appoint His Cronies Must be Reined In

5.17.33pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 5th Jan 2007

In next week's Committee Stage of the Greater London Authority (GLA) Bill, Lib Dem Local Government Spokesman Tom Brake MP and Norman Baker MP will be pressing for greater powers to control Mayoral appointments.

Tom Brake said, "Clause 4 was a watershed for Labour. Clause 4 in this Bill must also be a watershed. The Mayor's powers to appoint his cronies to key positions must be reined in. Clause 4 in this Bill to allow a watered down version of US Senate style confirmation hearings for senior Mayoral appointments does not go far enough. Why restrict the hearings to just the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the key bodies such as Metropolitan Police Authority and Transport for London? All the Mayor's appointments to the Boards should be subject to the same scrutiny. Londoners need to know they are getting the best people for the job, not Ken's best mates."

To further restrain any Mayor's ability to establish a nepotistic government in London the Liberal Democrats have also tabled a New Clause which would restrict the Mayor to two terms in office.

Conservative spokesman Michael Gove MP has also added his name to these amendments.