Ken Livingstone has urged MPs from all parties to back the Greater London Authority (GLA) Bill when it gets its second reading in Parliament tomorrow.
The Bill, which will see the GLA get greater powers over planning and housing and strengthen the scrutiny role of the London Assembly, follows an announcement by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly earlier this year.
Speaking today the Mayor said he hoped all parties in Parliament would back the Bill and said that those who oppose the Government’s proposals would be guilty of blocking “more affordable homes for Londoners.”
The Mayor described the proposals as “overwhelmingly about devolving powers from quangos and civil servants to London’s elected Mayor” saying that proposals for him to take over more housing powers from Whitehall “have been supported by London borough Councils on an all-party basis.”
Commenting on objections to the greater planning powers he would wield if Government plans were passed Mr Livingstone said “borough councils will still decide over 99 per cent” of all applications and that his priority would be to “use these powers to stop Councils obstructing plans for new affordable homes for Londoners.”
