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Watchdog launches inquiry into mayoral conduct
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent10.11.08
BRITAIN'S sleaze watchdog today started an inquiry into the London mayoralty.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life launched the investigation, following controversy over the use of public funds by former mayor Ken Livingstone's administration.
The watchdog is understood to be particularly concerned about how directly elected mayors and other town hall chiefs are held to account.
Committee chairman Sir Christopher Kelly said: "We are keen to look at the new structures put in place at the start of the decade to see whether they have achieved their goals of promoting better leadership, greater accountability, raising standards and improving public trust.
"As well as looking at the mayoral system in London, we will be looking at the other 12 directly elected mayor models, the Cabinet system within some local councils, and the committee structure found in others, to see how they work within the constitutional and ethical landscape."
Current mayor Boris Johnson, his predecessor Mr Livingstone, Greater London Authority leaders and London Development Agency chiefs are likely to be invited to give evidence to the inquiry, and possibly Mr Livingstone's former race adviser Lee Jasper.
The investigation is being launched in the wake of the Standard revealing this year that financial grants from the LDA were being given to community groups linked to Mr Jasper or his associates.
The Metropolitan Police is continuing its inquiries into at least four groups, after allegations of fraud were referred to it by the LDA in connection with six organisations that received public funding.
The new probe is due to be finalised by next autumn.
Meanwhile, the watchdog published a survey of public attitudes of conduct in public life, which revealed falling trust in government ministers.
Reader views (2)
Typical misreporting again. He is NOT investigating Mayor Livingstone, much to your chagrin no doubt. He is reviewing all mayoralties across the country. As Boris Johnson will assist the enquiry, along with Ken Livingstone, no doubt there will be questions asked about some of the waste he has been responsible for, ie Deputy Mayors' salaries, scrapping long-standing projects that have cost millions, being responsible for Sir Ian Blair's £400,000 settlement when he virtually sacked him.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa. Spain
They could start by investigating if a mayor of a particular area (e. London) should spend money on projects (e.g airports) which lay outside his area of responsibility?
They can also look into whether when a mew mayor takes office what waste arises when the new mayor scraps long term projects upon which large amounts of money have already been spent and which might not come to construction util after the next mayoral election.
After all if Boris Johnson had been mayor 4 years earlier he could have scrapped Crossrail as it had no funding! So why should tram schemes be any different?
Afterall he is wasting money on a bus design that is not compatible with 21st century methods of fare collection and safety of passenger carraige.
Should assemblies have greater power over controlling Mayors who develop pet projects?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
