Afternoon:
10°c
Simon Cowell, Stella McCartney and Dizzee Rascal were today named among the 20 most influential people in London.
They joined Boris Johnson and Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson in the Standard's annual list of the most powerful figures in the capital.
The London Mayor topped the list, with Business Secretary Peter Mandelson in second place, leaving Gordon Brown in third, just ahead of Tory leader David Cameron.
A panel of experts and journalists compile the top 20, which is extracted from the Standard's The 1,000, an annual survey of the most influential people in the capital from politics and the City to sport and the arts.
The 1,000 magazine, published tomorrow, describes Mr Brown as "weighed down by economic woes and naked leadership plotting", while it reveals how Lord Mandelson will have the pick of corporate jobs after the election.
The Mayor is described as unmissable and unique, "despite the loss of three deputy mayors, an Olympic representative and a political adviser he is still firmly at the helm". Mr Cameron is ranked fourth because although his influence is growing rapidly he still has to get his hands on the levers of power.
Pop impresario and X Factor mastermind Cowell is described as "the biggest TV star on both sides of the Atlantic", while McCartney "has proved the sceptics wrong" with her agenda-setting designs.
Bank of England Governor Mervyn King is in fifth place, acknowledging his crucial role in the economy.
Standard Editor Geordie Greig said: "London leads the world because of its excellence in many things - but above all, it leads because it is a centre of influence. Anybody who is anyone knows that, in order to do business, to get ahead and meet the best in almost any given field, they must come to London.
"That kind of concentration of power and influence is one of the reasons why London is such a vibrant and exciting place, fizzing with new ideas and possibilities."
Top 20
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
David Cameron, Conservative Leader
Mervyn King, Bank of England Governor
Sir Paul Stephenson, Metropolitan Police
Commissioner
Sir Philip Green, Bhs and Arcadia boss
James Murdoch, News Corporation Europe chief executive
Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP boss
Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate
Simon Cowell, pop impresario
David Campbell, AEG Europe chief executive
Lord Coe, London Olympic Organising Committee chairman
Stella McCartney, fashion designer
Harriet Harman, Labour deputy leader
Camila Batmanghelidjh, Kids Company, founder
Richard Caring, restaurateur and club owner
Lily Allen, singer
Dizzee Rascal, rapper
Peter Hendy, Transport commissioner
The One Thousand - read the full list here
Reader views (19)
Thats really funny to see Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal in this list - snort. Did you run out of ideas?
- Dd, Auckland, NZ, 08/01/2010 08:42
Report abuse
In their own little narcissistic circle, this may be so - but the burning question out in the real world should be, "So what?" - or perhaps, "Who cares?"
- Rogan, Irving, 11/11/2009 16:54
Report abuse
Phony Bliar not mentioned, nor his wife? How the mighty have fallen, hopefully.
And how many of those people should be REMOVED from the list for detrimentally influencing London?
- Ralph, London, 11/11/2009 13:54
Report abuse
Gormless Brown and Meddleslime have less credibility and influence than a demented toad.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 11/11/2009 10:13
Report abuse
Camila Batmanghelidjh is a fantastic person who has made a huge difference to young people in London. She should be top of the list!
- Nolan, Londonist, 11/11/2009 10:04
Report abuse
How sad a nation we've become.
- Dan Dan, London, 11/11/2009 00:56
Report abuse
Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal, just who exactly were the experts who put them on the list.
- Mr S.Port, London, 10/11/2009 22:22
Report abuse
The day I believe that Stella McCartney is "influential" in any way other than showing us how to milk a parents' name for all it is worth, is the day I give up on mankind.
As for Simon Cowell....he should just pocket his millions and go to live in Las Vegas. What exactly does HE influence? Greed?
- Sidney Marks, London, UK, 10/11/2009 21:16
Report abuse
Here here Roz, well said.
The list is a graphic example of the ignorance modern young people share.
Who, or what is a Dizzy Rascal, poor lad must be a record co. pRawn.
- Paul, london england, 10/11/2009 20:07
Report abuse
How sad
- P Staker, London, 10/11/2009 16:25
Report abuse
Heaven help London!
- Peter Little, San Miguel de Salinas, Spain, 10/11/2009 16:14
Report abuse
London certainly leads the looking-glass world.
- John Polenski, Osaka, Japan, 10/11/2009 15:23
Report abuse
A sad state of affairs when people think that the likes of Lilly Allen and Dizzee Rascal are amongst the most influential in London. I mean seriously what influence do they have?
- Pa, London, 10/11/2009 15:04
Report abuse
Is London leading the world? Maybe in public transport prices.
- Alex, London, UK, 10/11/2009 13:01
Report abuse
Isn't it sad when a frock maker and a few nobodies off the telly are deemed, "powerful".
- Bj, East London, 10/11/2009 11:04
Report abuse
Harriet Harmen, Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal........
......no wonder our once great city is such a soul less toilet now
- Lb, London, 10/11/2009 10:27
Report abuse
Lily Allen? I'm sorry, LILLY ALLEN???
- Wendy, London, 10/11/2009 10:24
Report abuse
Cowell, Coe, Harmen, Rascal and Allen!
Influential no, narcissistic yes!
- Mark, South-East London, 10/11/2009 09:58
Report abuse
Yeah, of course: the rest of the planet thinks of London and AUTOMATICALLY thinks of people like Sir Martin Sorrell, Simon Cowell, Camila Batmanghelidjh - rather than say, the Queen!
Heck: what's a lifetime's dedicated service to the country from someone who can make Presidents of other World Powers look like smitten little school boys, who gives foreign dignitaries the most golden 'hello' of the their lives, compared to being 'the biggest TV star on both sides of the Atlantic' - it's not like the guy's even been recognised for all his work for charity. As for Boris Johnson - I understood the LORD Mayor of London (who has a grander title and centuries-older job, so modestly stands in the shadows) has more clout . . . ? And he works for free . . .
- Roz, France, 10/11/2009 09:49
Report abuse
