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Ken and his cronies top new London power list
Ross Lydall, Evening Standard5 Oct 2007
The scale of the influence that Ken Livingstone holds over London is revealed today.
An Evening Standard analysis of the top 50 figures in the capital confirms the Mayor in pole position following his role in bringing the 2012 Olympics to London, securing Crossrail, introducing the Oyster card and transforming the bus network.
But what it also reveals is the extent of the power his aides have grasped on his behalf - with people close to him accounting for half the remaining places. Twelve aides directly responsible to Mr Livingstone feature on our list - plus a further 12 over whom he has considerable influence.
The full list of the 1,000 most influential Londoners will be revealed on Tuesday in the Standard. But today we can reveal the 25 who dominate the London political scene.
The five most powerful Londoners as the Mayor, Met commissioner Sir Ian Blair, Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy, Tube managing director Tim O'Toole and Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins.
Mr Livingstone is also in the separate list categories of politics, environment and property. His Tory mayoral challenger Boris Johnson features as an up-and-coming influential, as does likely Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick.
Within City Hall, the list includes the Mayor's ultra-loyal chief of staff Simon Fletcher, long-serving policy directors Neale Coleman (housing and Olympics), John Ross (economics) and Redmond O'Neill (transport) and rising stars such as his climate change guru Mark Watt.
Others who add intellectual vigour, authority and foresight to Brand Livingstone include Lord Rogers, who remains his unpaid architectural adviser, and Bridget Rosewell, consultant chief economist to the Greater London Authority.
Our list, compiled by 40 Evening Standard specialists and independent experts, names the people whose talents have made this the world's most influential city.
Even the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, admits his envy at London's position - with the billionaire media tycoon itching to return to his second home in Chelsea once his second term ends in 2009.
Speaking this week on a visit to the capital to see the C-charge in operation and the improvements to bus services, Bloomberg said he "had no scruples" about stealing London's ideas. He hopes to introduce "congestion pricing" to Manhattan.
Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said London's advances would not have been possible without the people "who not only make the right decisions but have the energy, creativity and power to see those decisions through. They have a profound effect on our lives."
25 OF THE TOP PEOPLE RUNNING LONDON
Ken Livingstone: Mayor of London. Reborn as environmental champion with influence beyond legal powers.
Sir Ian Blair: Met police commissioner. Rarely out of headlines due to terror threat or ill-judged comments.
Peter Hendy: Transport commissioner and bendy bus champion.
Tim O'Toole: Tube managing director overseeing its modernisation.
David Higgins: Olympics boss battling rising costs against immovable deadline.
Lord Coe: National hero twice over who has to stage the best show on earth in 2012.
Simon Fletcher: Mayor's super-bright, ultra-loyal chief of staff.
John Ross: Ken's energetic, dishevelled economics boffin.
Redmond O'Neill: Wily mayoral propaganda chief and transport overseer.
Mark Watts: Mayoral climate change guru and rising star.
Neale Coleman: Earnest intellectual mayoral aide for housing and Olympics.
Merrick Cockell: Old-school Tory who leads London's 33 borough councils.
Sir Simon Milton: Westminster council leader.
Paul Deighton: London 2012 chief executive who made his fortune as an investment banker.
Michael Snyder: De facto leader of City of London Corporation and Crossrail advocate.
Bob Crow: RMT leader and most unpopular man in London during a Tube strike.
Baroness Valentine: Puller of strings making London better for business.
Lord Rogers: World-renowned visionary architect and mayoral aide.
David Campbell: The man who made the O2 an instant success.
Matthew Freud: PR guru.
George Iacobescu: Mr Canary Wharf.
Trevor Phillips: The UK's foremost equalities campaigner.
Bridget Rosewell: Greater London Authority chief economist
UP AND COMING
Boris Johnson: Charismatic, often shambolic Tory mayoral candidate and "militant cyclist".
Brian Paddick: Former Met commander and likely Lib-Dem mayoral candidate.
SO WHO ARE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN LONDON? FIND OUT IN THE 108-PAGE GLOSSY MAGAZINE FREE WITH TUESDAY'S EVENING STANDARD
Reader views (5)
Why are just about all of them men? Don't women live in London?
- K Sherman, London, 08/10/2007 12:53
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If the best, and most available, person for the job is male why is it a bad thing if they are appointed?
- Mike Hudgell, London, UK, 06/10/2007 22:50
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Totally agreeing on your comment Suzy.
Might also save London's skyline as all those tall and sometimes ugly new buildings are just reflections of gigantic egos if not wishful subliminal thinking...
- Esther Phillips, Leatherhead, 06/10/2007 15:50
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I wonder if they ever consult a common Londoner?
- Surj, London, 05/10/2007 22:15
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Frightening indictment on our society that there are only 2 women on this list - who says sexism is dead and buried!
- Suzy Mcallister, London, UK, 05/10/2007 14:50
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