Mayor of London - role

The Mayor's role as the executive of the strategic authority for London is to promote economic development and wealth creation, social development, and the improvement of the environment. The Mayor also has a number of other duties in relation to culture and tourism, including responsibility for Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square.

What can the Mayor do?

The Mayor has a range of specific powers and duties, and a general power to do anything that will promote economic and social development, and environmental improvement, in London. Before using many of his powers the Mayor must consult with Londoners, and in all cases, the Mayor must promote equality of opportunity.

The Greater London Authority Act 2007 supplements and updates the GLA Act 1999 and grants new powers to the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

Setting strategies for London

The Mayor sets out plans and policies for London covering transport, planning and development, economic development and regeneration, culture, and a range of environmental issues including biodiversity, ambient noise, waste disposal and air quality.

These individual plans fit together to help deliver the Mayor's policies. Between them, these plans must also contribute to sustainable development and the health of Londoners.

Funding services for London

The Mayor sets the annual budget for:

the Greater London Authority
the Metropolitan Police, who provide policing in the capital, under the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Authority
Transport for London, which is responsible for London's buses and the Underground, manages river services and some light rail services, maintains London's main roads and regulates London's licensed taxi and private hire services
the London Development Agency, which works with business to sustain and improve London's role as a business centre, while increasing economic opportunity for all Londoners
London Fire Brigade, which responds to fires and promotes fire prevention, under the oversight of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Appointing people for London

The Mayor has made a number of important appointments. While staff in the Greater London Authority are appointed by the London Assembly, the Mayor appoints the boards of Transport for London and the London Development Agency. He also chairs Transport for London, and has led the recruitment of its senior managers.

The Police and Fire Authorities are independent bodies, but the Mayor appoints some members of the Police Authority, following nominations by the London Assembly. He also appoints the Fire Authority, following nominations by the London Assembly and London boroughs.

A Cultural Strategy Group, now superseded by the London Cultural Consortium was appointed by the Mayor to develop the Mayor's cultural strategy, which covers everything from sport, to architectural heritage, to performing arts in London.

The boards directly appointed by the Mayor were chosen on merit, but also broadly mirror London in their representation of black and Asian people, women, and people with disabilities.

Other powers and duties

The Mayor's Spatial Development Strategy - the London Plan - sets out the policies for new building and land use in London. Major planning applications have to be referred to the Mayor by London boroughs, and he can direct refusal of those that are not in accordance with the GLA's policies. The Mayor also has control over the management of two of London's most important public spaces, Trafalgar and Parliament Squares.

Deputy Mayor

The Mayor appoints a member of the London Assembly to be Deputy Mayor. Nicky Gavron was the first Deputy Mayor, from May 2000 until June 2003. Jenny Jones held the post until the June 2004 elections, after which Nicky Gavron was Deputy Mayor until the May 2008 elections.

Term of appointment and next election

The Mayor is elected for a fixed term of four years. The most recent election of Mayor and Assembly was in May 2008.

Contacting the Mayor

You can write to the Mayor at City Hall - see the Contact page - or email mayor@london.gov.uk.