• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Why does London need 11% of all UK MPs?

June 6, 2011 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Like many of the changes proposed by the coalition, it seems the proposed cull of MPs in the Commons will be an underwhelming and missed opportunity to radically change how the UK is Governed.

Calculations suggest the capital will lose just 5 MPs, retaining 68 of its current 73 seat allocation – more than 11% of the seats in the reformed Parliament.

Despite having a directly elected executive Mayor to speak up for it, the capital will tie the North west for the English region with the largest number of MPs.

What do we need them all for?

Obviously it’s important that London has a voice and input into legislation which affects its residents but does it need quite so many voices pocketing taxpayer money to sit on the green benches?

Could we not get by quite happily with a smaller number of MPs – say 34 – speaking for the capital on the floor of the chamber and allow City Hall – ideally both the Mayor and Assembly – a statutory consultation role in any legislation which directly affected Londoners?

Unlike MPs, the Mayor and Assembly Members aren’t ruled by Westminster’s whip system, their scrutiny of new laws wouldn’t be influenced by the desire for promotion or favours.

This isn’t as revolutionary as it might first sound.

Ministers already hold meetings with the Mayor, coalition ministers have appeared before the Assembly and the Mayor has given evidence to Parliamentary select committees.

With just the tiniest amount of Parliamentary time and a fairly small add-on to the localism bill, these exchanges of views could have been set on a statutory footing.

As with the failure to hand the NHS in London to City Hall, passing up the chance offered by the boundary review to re-examine how the capital interfaces with national government is a missed opportunity from a coalition which is nowhere near as radical as it claims to be.

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.