London mayor and influence beyond London

[TwoLeftSocks]

The London mayor election resolute seems to be dominating the national news at the moment.

I understand it's important to London but its got me wondering, how much influence, either direct or indirect, does the mayor have over the rest of the country?

Influence may be the wrong word here, maybe the question is how much do they effect the rest of the country?

[SquirmOfEels]

Well, the population of London is not far short of the combined populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and if you add in all the inward commuters it's bigger.

Not to mention all the things physically in London that need to be functioning well (UK Government, all the embassies, central government departments, plus all the firm's HQed there).

So it's not that far from being the leader of a devolved administration for the largest region with an amount of autonomy. Which might or might not matter that much if you are not in London or a contiguous county. But as do many people are, it does tend to get coverage.

[TwoLeftSocks]

I don't have a problem with the coverage, I know its a large population with a direct interest in it.

I'm more thinking, to stay extent to decisions made by the mayor of London have an impact on the rest of the country? Probably how I should have phrased it to start with.

[MelanieCheeks]

Could I extend the question to ask what actual powers does the London Lord Mayor have? Genuinely interested.

[TwoLeftSocks]

Fair question. I'm not entirely sure myself... off to google.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Broadly, policing, transport, housing, planning and the environment. Mayor of London is different to Lord Mayor, which is a ceremonial role connected to the historic City of London (the financial district).

[SquirmOfEels]

Transport is probably the biggie for affecting non-London residents. the ability to commute in (reliably?) is important, connections to the rest of the country are important, and getting around once in matters.

London house prices affect the whole of the country, by a kind of ripple effect outwards, so housing has an impact beyond London.

The Met police have all the main anti-terrorism roles, through specialist until. I'm not sure how far the Mayor influences Met policing beyond London, but Mayoral/Police Commissioner big policy decisions for London do seem to have an impact on how policing works in general.

Planning is probably London only, except when it relates to airports or other atonal infrastructure.

Environment again mainly local.

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

Have lived in London for all my adult life, having grown up in a provincial town.
Londoner are vastly privileged with transport!
My two teenagers have free (bus and cycling distance) reduced (tube and train) and convenient (Uber) transport to all manner of amazing world-class venues/events at any time day or night. Of course they don't realise how lucky they are (and we are, never have to ferry them anywhere).
Other capitals do transport better - Paris and Berlin definitely - but they have smaller populations and less of a sprawling commuter culture.
London could do transport better with driverless trains, but no chance of that with Sadiq

[TwoLeftSocks]

Thanks squirm and schnitzel, that's really helpful.

[Spinflight]

In terms of influence probably second only to the Prime Minister or leader of the opposition..

Same in the US, the Mayor of New York has great influence hence why you've probably heard of Gulliani and Bloomberg.