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Boris: Pass law limiting Mayor to just two terms
Katharine Barney, City Hall Reporter19 May 2008
Boris Johnson today called on the Government to pass new legislation preventing the Mayor of London from serving more than two terms.
In a swipe at his predecessor Ken Livingstone, the Mayor said any more time spent in power could lead to cronyism.
He wrote to Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears to demand there be "refreshed leadership" after eight years.
Currently there is no limit set on the number of terms. Mr Johnson said: "Londoners rightly expect that their Mayor is accountable. That's why I pledged to only stand for two terms.
"Without any limits on the number of times an individual can serve as Mayor, there is a real danger of cronyism, misconduct and corruption at City Hall. Londoners deserve better than that. The job of leading London is a huge privilege not a right. It's time the law supported that principle."
The move follows a row over former mayor Ken Livingstone's promise to step down this year, having said power can lead to corruption.
However, he decided to stand in the recent election and said he might continue into a fourth term. He has not yet ruled out fighting in the 2012 contest.
In a speech last week Ms Blears said: "The idea of term limits does not seem very democratic. Surely it should be up to local people how long they want local councillors or mayors to serve?"
Mr Johnson has also vowed to save £80,000 by not having stands advertising City Hall at the three party conferences this year. And he wants to cut the number of staff being sent to the Beijing Olympics to only those whose presence is "absolutely crucial" for the investment of London or the study of how the Games are operated.
Reader views (9)
It's actually in the Labour Party rules that an Elected Labour Mayor cannot stand for more than two terms. Check out what has gone on in Doncaster. The Mayor, Martin Winter, has left the Labour Party so he stand for a third term.
- Mike Law, Newham, 07/06/2008 01:02
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TonyB you are right, thank goodness for the two term rule, imagine another 4 years with Bill Clinton!
- Martin Wickens, Ballyclare, Northern Ireland, 22/05/2008 14:32
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I agree with that wholeheartedly. No one should be allowed to become a Dictator, which is what seems to happen after 2 terms.
- Jacqui, London, UK, 22/05/2008 00:28
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If it works for the president of the United States, then why not for the Mayor of London? The point is that democracy doesn't work well when people start voting for a personality or a name [for example a Kennedy in the USA], rather than the policies.
- Keith Simpson, Wareham, Dorset, 20/05/2008 09:06
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It's the USA 2-term rule that gave the world George W Bush - IIRC opinion polls at the time said that Clinton would have won had he been allowed to stand. I rest my case.
- Tonyb, Twickenham, 20/05/2008 08:53
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I led the group on the London Assembly which opposed the Mayor and his measures more than any other party between 2004 and 2008. However, the idea of creating term limits is illogical if applied just to one particular position. This is not about whether you support or oppose an individual, it is about the right of the electorate to decide (as they did on May 1st). Those who talk about the danger of cronyism are in fact really highlighting the fact that the structures of accountability around the position of London Mayor are faulty. Well we said this every week, every month throughout our time at City Hall. But it was the Tories who voted to allow the Mayor more paid political advisers and most others who simply lowered their heads and said nothing when we asked for greater powers as an Assembly to hold the Mayor to account. Just think about it. If one individual is supplanted by another of the same party after two terms, there is likely to be less investigation of alleged cronyism or corruption because they all look after their own. One Labour Party Mayor, loyal to the party line, is hardly going to spend money investigating the supposed misdeeds of his comrade predecessor...and each time a different party gets in, its Mayor will spend money "proving" that the predecessor was guilty of "cronyism, corruption etc"...which brings us back the current Mayor wasting money now on attacking his predecessor. A rum way of holding to account. Get on with the job.
- Damian Hockney, London, UK, 20/05/2008 02:41
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Its not just Mayors, the same should apply to Prime Ministers.
Both Thatcher and Blair outstayed their time.
The Americans have got it right with "two terms and you're out" amendment to the US Constitution.
- Peter Hooper, Windsor, Berkshire, UK, 20/05/2008 02:14
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What a waste of hot air. The fact that us Londoners booted Ken out after eight years proves that democracy is best left in the hands of the electorate, not taken away by draconian laws like this. If you want to pass a law to reduce cronyism, Boris, pass one that stops Tube unions holding London to ransom every time they want a pay rise.
- Jonathan, London, UK, 19/05/2008 17:26
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I totally agree Boris, Ken had got stale and definitely into cronyism...2 terms are more democratic Hazel Blears.
I also approve of Boris opposition to Ken's building high especially in the face of local opposition...he rode roughshod over local people...glad he has gone..
- Jean, London England, 19/05/2008 17:00
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