The London Assembly today voted to appoint Labour’s Jennette Arnold as Chair of the Assembly and Green Party Assembly Member Darren Johnson as her deputy.
Seconding Ms Arnold’s nomination LibDem leader Mike Tuffrey said it was right that the “non-Mayoral” parties take the lead on the Assembly.
Breaking with their stance during the 2004-08 session the Conservatives claimed there needed to be “recognition” that their party was “supreme in London” and that it made “good sense” for the Chair to be drawn from the Mayor’s party and nominated Roger Evans for the role.
Some reports have suggested that Mr Evans was being lined up for the Chairmanship by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
In a show of hands Ms Arnold won 13 votes to 11 for Mr Evans and was declared the chair for the forthcoming year promising to work in “a non-partisian way” while helping the Assembly subject the Mayor to effective scrutiny.
Mr Johnson, who was nominated by fellow Green AM Jenny Jones, then defeated Tory AM Tony Arbour attracting the support of 14 Assembly Members.
The full meeting can be viewed on the London.gov.uk website.
