People across London will be going to the polls today (Thursday, May 2). Londoners will be voting for a mayor, as well as your constituency London Assembly member and the London-wide Assembly members.
The 25 London Assembly members hold the mayor to account by examining their policies, making recommendations, and questioning the mayor at Mayor’s Question Time. The mayor consults the assembly and the assembly can reject the mayor’s strategies or amend the draft budget, among other powers.
In the assembly, 14 members represent 14 constituencies. Each constituency is made up of a few boroughs together. 11 members represent the whole of London. When you vote, you vote for your local member as well as a London-wide member.
The mayor, currently Sadiq Khan, sets the overall vision and strategy, creating the budget for it. The mayor is responsible for transport, improving the environment, reducing crime, supporting businesses, supporting housing programmes, and more. The role also covers, health, fire, sport, regeneration, high education, foreign investment, and more.
The mayor’s budget comes from central government grants, transport fares, business rates, council tax and more.
Voters will need to take ID with them to the polling station today, or they will be turned away.
Follow our live updates on the elections below.
Get the biggest stories from around London straight to your inbox. Sign up to MyLondon’s The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.
