Joint letter to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

In a joint move today, the Mayor of London, London Councils and the London Assembly co-signed a letter sent to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, making a united case for further devolution to London from central government.

Coming together in a joint bid for greater powers and more accountability co-signatories, Boris Johnson, Mayor Jules Pipe and Dee Doocey AM , put forward a devolution package for London outlining agreement between the three bodies, which if adopted, will lead to more streamlined and efficient governance in London and significant savings for the taxpayer.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

“Too much is controlled by Whitehall and measured by standards that don’t apply specifically to Londoners, meaning our devolution settlement has remained weak with much room for improvement, particularly where decisions should be taken by those in the local communities they affect.

“It is time to act, and we are delighted to be working in agreement with London Councils and the Assembly who are both key to the success of any devolution package for London.”

Chair of London Councils, Mayor Jules Pipe, said:

"This agreement between the boroughs, the Mayor and the Assembly is a significant step towards shifting power and influence out to local communities. These devolutionary measures will result in decisions being made closer to the Londoners whose lives they affect.”