Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I am particularly keen to look at the matter of call-in, which would give the London assembly an opportunity to enjoy many of the powers that local authorities—[Interruption.] That is, I will be looking forward to doing so once I have addressed the matter of the poll date—I just wanted to emphasise how much I was looking forward to doing so.

The eyes of the world will be on London when the London Olympics take place in 2012. The Mayor—whoever he or she might be after the 2008 elections—is likely to follow a pattern, already established and typical in any mayoral system, of having a number of advisers around him or her who are part of a team that will inevitably move on if there is a change in the person holding the mayoral post after the election in May 2012.

Martin Linton rose—

Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

I should like to progress my argument and will then take guidance from the hon. Gentleman. To continue, we would have a great deal of change and discontinuity at an important time in the run-up to the Olympics in the late summer. I am very grateful for the strong support for this clause from London First. It also says that the eyes of the world will be on London as the Olympic and Paralympic games are staged in August 2012.

Martin Linton (PPS (Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC, Minister of State), Department for Constitutional Affairs; Battersea, Labour)

Does this new clause mean that the Conservatives have given up hope of finding a credible candidate not only for the mayoral election of 2008 but also for the election in 2012?

Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

The clause is entirely without party politics; it is all about improving the prospects for London in undertaking the games. I have no desire to be partisan on this clause.

The success of the games will be important for the UK’s international reputation. Within a partisan election, it is inevitable that the Mayor will be distracted by the election taking place just a few months before the Olympics take place. There is the prospect of a great deal of distraction from the important attention that we should ask the Mayor to give to the Olympic games.

I know that it is important always to be cautious about changing the rhythm of the electoral cycle, but if we set the term of office for the assembly and the Mayor well in advance and know that the elections in 2008 are for a five-year term, we will take partisan politics, as exemplified by the intervention by the hon. Member for Battersea, out of the Olympics, as they are too important for London and the United Kingdom to be sullied by a party political campaign.

Tom Brake (Shadow Minister, Department for Communities and Local Government; Carshalton & Wallington, Liberal Democrat)

I listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman to see whether he had an overwhelming case for lengthening the standard cycle for the mayoral and GLA elections, because it is a bad principle to vary that cycle. Although the Olympics are a very significant event, many other very significant events could occur which might lead the hon. Gentleman to deploy arguments in favour of a postponement for another reason at some time in the future.

The hon. Gentleman did not present an overwhelming case and we should therefore stick to the principle that if an agreed cycle for elections has been established it should be maintained. He may find that he has been doing the Government’s job, as they may well seek to make this change themselves in the future. The hon. Gentleman might feel that it is more appropriate to let the Government take the risk associated with the decision rather than acting as an outrider for them.

The hon. Gentleman made some interesting points but the case is not so overwhelming that we should be willing to postpone the elections until 2013. If he presses the new clause to a Division, I will not support it.

Yvette Cooper (Minister of State (Housing and Planning), Department for Communities and Local Government; Pontefract & Castleford, Labour)

The Government are also opposing the new clause for similar reasons to those given by the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington. I recognise the spirit in which the proposal was tabled and acknowledge that there are serious issues to be considered to ensure that the Olympics are a success. However, we should give serious regard to the fact that the four-year electoral cycle was set as part of previous legislation and be careful about what precedents would be set.

The hon. Gentleman did not make an overwhelming case for considering the Olympics as exceptional circumstances that justify changing from the ordinary electoral cycle for the GLA and the Mayor. The Olympics do not depend on any one individual; many organisations are involved, including the Olympic authorities and the GLA, and they will need to work together to ensure that the Olympics in 2012 are a success.

Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

In the interests of expediting the business, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion.