May 2nd 2024.
City Hall is not only a place of work for the Mayor and the London Assembly, but it also serves as a home away from home for them. Today, the people of London are heading to the polls to cast their votes for the new London Mayor. But that's not all they will be voting for - there's also the London Assembly to consider. What exactly is the London Assembly, you may ask?
Well, the London Assembly is made up of 25 members, who are elected at the same time as the Mayor. This is a crucial part of the Greater London Authority, which also includes the Mayor of London. Essentially, it's the top of the chain when it comes to London politics. But what exactly does the London Assembly do?
The Assembly works towards the best interests of the people of London. It is split into two parts - 11 members represent the entire capital, while the other 14 are elected by London's constituencies. These constituencies are made up of two or more local authorities, such as Barnet and Camden.
Here is a list of all the constituencies: Barnet and Camden, Bexley and Bromley, Brent and Harrow, City and East (which includes Barking and Dagenham, City, Newham, and Tower Hamlets), Croydon and Sutton, Ealing and Hillingdon, Enfield and Haringey, Greenwich and Lewisham, Havering and Redbridge, Lambeth and Southwark, Merton and Wandsworth, North East (which includes Hackney, Islington, and Waltham Forest), South West (which includes Hounslow, Kingston, and Richmond), and West Central (which includes Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster). You can find a helpful map of all the Assembly constituencies on our website.
The main role of the London Assembly is to hold the Mayor accountable. They act as the voice of Londoners at City Hall, reviewing proposed budgets and examining strategies to ensure that the Mayor is working in the best interests of the people of London. In fact, if two-thirds of Assembly members agree, they have the power to reject strategies and make changes to budgets.
The Assembly also has the responsibility of questioning the Mayor 10 times a year at Mayor's Question Time. This ensures that the Mayor is consulting with Londoners and their elected representatives before finalizing any major strategies.
So, how do you vote for London Assembly members? When you head to the polls today, you will be given three different ballot papers to fill out. The pink ballot paper is for your vote for London Mayor, where you must mark a cross next to your chosen candidate. This is different from previous elections, where voters could choose a first and second choice for mayor.
This change was introduced after the government passed the Elections Act in 2022, which means that the Mayor of London is now chosen using the First Past the Post voting system. However, the way we vote for the London Assembly has not changed. The yellow ballot paper is for selecting your London Assembly constituency member, and the orange ballot paper is for selecting your preference for the London-wide Assembly member. Remember, you will need to bring a voter ID with you to be able to vote. The Electoral Commission website has a list of accepted forms of ID.
If you are not registered to vote for this election, it is too late to do so now. However, you can still register for future elections on the gov.uk website. Make your voice heard and have a say in the future of London politics!
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