• Question by: Unmesh Desai
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Unmesh Desai AM: Thank you, Chair. Mr Mayor, I have attended Carnival with the police since being elected in 2016, every year. I also walk around on my own after I leave the police to make my own observations. There are two sides to this debate. One is the policing of Carnival. The other side is the management of Carnival. The policing operation is excellent. I have to commend the police on the work that they do. It is very commendable indeed. The MetCC is an impressive operation to say the least. However, the management leaves a lot to be...

• Question by: Zack Polanski
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Zack Polanski AM: Thank you, Chair. Mr Mayor, expert after expert says lifting the child benefit cap could take 300,000 children out of poverty. [Prime Minister, Sir] Kier Starmer says there is no money left, but we are making suggestions like a wealth tax, bringing capital gains tax in line with income tax, and borrowing. In your conversations with the Prime Minister for Londoners, are you at least encouraging looking at some of these options?

• Question by: Sem Moema
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Sem Moema AM: Thank you, Chair. I wanted to, in the spirit of conversations and what this new Labour Government that we on this side have been so desperate for, what they have given us. In a couple of short months, it has achieved something that various iterations of the previous Conservative Government could not do and that was the Renters’ Reform Bill. I just wanted to challenge some of the assumptions and the assertions made. I really welcome and I know that Londoners really welcome the fact that there will be once-per-year increases to rents rather than landlords being...

• Question by: Lord Bailey of Paddington
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Lord Bailey of Paddington AM: Thank you, Chair. Hello again, Mr Mayor. In a recent article from the MHCLG, the Government, your Government, the new Government, stated that: “The Government is clear that the recent housing delivery in London has fallen well short of what is needed.” Also, you have spoken to us at length about your great relationship with the Government. You have boasted that you spoke to Sue Gray [Downing Street Chief of Staff] four times in one day. My question to you is: what additional help has it offered you to speed up your housebuilding in London?

• Question by: Emma Best
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Emma Best AM: Thank you, Chair. Mr Mayor, the last Labour Government left office trying to close our hospital in Whipps Cross and one of the first actions of this Labour Government was to take the diggers and workers off the ground in the construction of our new hospital in Whipps Cross. In 2022 you acknowledged the issues at Whipps Cross, the issues with flooding and the fact we are in dire need of a new hospital, and you agreed then that you would write to the Prime Minister as well as the representations you had already made to the...

• Question by: Alessandro Georgiou
• Meeting date: 12 September 2024

Alessandro Georgiou AM: Good morning, Mr Mayor. Very briefly, because I do not want to get drummed out of my magic circle over here by actually saying thank you to the Deputy Mayor for Transport for his quick handling of the Sullivan Buses issue. I would say that in my own ward of Cockfosters, which I represent as a councillor, the delays from Sullivan were very well known to TfL prior to them losing that contract. TfL did step in quickly to replace the bus services which I, and my residents, are grateful for but just to relay to you...