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London gets a minister
Underlining its pledge to better represent the interests of the capital, the new Labour government has appointed Nick Raynsford as Minister for London.
The MP for Greenwich said his role would be to introduce a new London-wide authority. The Greater London Council (GLC) was abolished by the Conservatives in 1986.
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London may have a GLC-style authority
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"The first overriding priority is going to be the restoration of a democratically elected strategic authority for London, headed by a directly elected Mayor," Mr Raynsford said. "This will once again give London a voice to speak for all Londoners and ensure that the city's interests are pursued with great vigour and energy." A referendum on both the authority and the mayor is likely to be announced in the Queen's Speech.
The mayor's post has already excited interest. The new Minister for Sport, Tony Banks, told the BBC that "his hat would definitely be in the ring" if the opportunity came up.
Mr Raynsford added that he would be assisted by the MP for Hampstead and Highgate, Glenda Jackson, who has been made a minister at the Department of Transport. Ms Jackson's brief will be to examine the future of London's transportation system, in particular London Underground. Mr Raynsford said that Ms Jackson would "ensure that the quality of service, which has sadly declined in recent years, is once again fit for our capital city."
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