Clause 28
Greater London Authority Bill
3:15 pm
Michael Gove (Shadow Minister (Housing), Communities and Local Government; Surrey Heath, Conservative)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for once again reminding us of the words of the leader of the Conservative party. I find paying close attention to my right hon. Friend’s speeches both spiritually improving and intellectually refreshing, and I suggest that, as well as repeating that line, the hon. Gentleman pay closer attention to all the speeches made by the leader of the Conservative party.
We agree that the Mayor’s powers should be enhanced, and we have tabled amendments that would enhance them, but as I pointed out on Second Reading, our definition of enhancing the Mayor’s powers does not involve enhancing them at the boroughs’ expense. We always wish to enhance the Mayor’s powers, wherever appropriate, in a way that leaves power to flow from central Government to the Mayor, although in specific exceptions—I might be straying into the debate on waste—some might advocate a devolution of powers from central Government to the Mayor that we consider inappropriate.
Enhancing the Mayor’s powers does not mean granting every one of the Mayor’s wishes; it just means an overall consolidation of greater powers in the Mayor’s hands, particularly when those powers come from central Government. It does not and should not mean acceding to all the Mayor’s wishes, and it certainly should not mean allowing a power grab at the boroughs’ expense.