After her final Mayor's Question Time before standing down from the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"16 years, 160 oral questions to the Mayor, 8,300 written questions & countless committees later I've just asked my final question as a London Assembly Member.
It's been the honour of a lifetime to represent Londoners and champion their causes and concerns. Thank you!"
Caroline used her last question to focus on the need for more devolution for London, asking the Mayor what he has done to lobby for further devolution for London and what further powers he would support for the GLA as a whole, and also for the London Assembly, which currently only serves as a scrutiny body with limited powers of its own.
Caroline called on the Mayor to set up a third London Finance Commission, to present plans to the next UK government for devolved options for raising finance to fund infrastructure and services in the capital, along the lines of the new devolution deals with far-reaching powers in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
Caroline commented:
“On my final Mayor’s question after 16 years on the Assembly, I want to leave the Mayor of London and others with some ambitious targets going forward.
“Over the last few years, we have seen the UK Government announce wide-ranging devolution deals for other urban areas including single funding pots and powers covering regional rail services, health and social care.
“Meanwhile London seems to have been left behind. I want to see the Mayor of London put forward an ambitious ask of any new incoming UK Government after the General Election that will give London the powers, levers and the finances to achieve the best possible results for our residents and to truly represent the global powerhouse it is.
“It is also important to see the London Assembly granted further powers to ensure that the Mayor is properly held to account and that Londoners are truly represented in decision-making processes by our City’s leaders.”