Greater London Authority

How we work for London We have a role in many areas of London life - you probably see our work every day. Find out everything you need to know about London's government. How London government is run - City Hall City Hall has one Mayor and 25 Assembly Members who are elected by Londoners. With the support of City Hall's staff they work to make London the best big city in the world. Also known as the Greater London Authority (GLA), it was created after a referendum in 1998, when Londoners voted in favour of a directly elected Mayor to represent London's interests, and a London Assembly to scrutinise their work. How London government is run - the Mayor of London The Mayor is responsible for making London a better place for everyone who visits, lives or works in the city. The Mayor provides citywide leadership, setting an overall vision for London and creating plans and policies to achieve it. The Mayor is elected every four years. How London government is run - the London Assembly The London Assembly is a watchdog for London and holds the Mayor and their advisers to public account. The Mayor must consult the Assembly before producing their statutory strategies and budget, including City Hall’s share of council tax. Assembly Members are elected every four years by Londoners to represent their interests on vital issues like the economy, transport, housing and crime. The most public way of holding the Mayor to account is at Mayor ’s Question Time. The Assembly also conducts investigations through its committees, which meet regularly and publish their findings. They provide recommendations, making proposals to the Mayor and government organisations about ways to improve the capital. The London Assembly also funds and appoints the board of London TravelWatch, the independent consumer watchdog for transport users.