Tuesday 16 August 2016

100-day verdict on the man who promised to be the most "pro-business mayor ever"

The new Mayor of London has made a good show of listening but now needs to prepare to move up a gear in terms of delivery says London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The capital's most representative business group is pleased to have helped the Mayor take some major steps forward most notably the reconvening of the London Finance Commission to update its 2013 report on funding London as well as the establishment of a working group to examine the case for more devolution to City Hall.

LCCI also noted that Mayor Khan has taken a progressive approach towards several issues it has long campaigned on such as new river crossings in East London and the idea of a London Visa which Sadiq called "interesting"*.

Mayor Khan also commissioned ordered the Harris Review into London's emergency preparedness around the same time that a new LCCI report found more than half of London's blue light emergency service workers were living outside the capital impacting on their response to major incidents.

Chief Executive of LCCI, Colin Stanbridge said: "By and large we've been pleased with the Mayor's first few months in office and they have been broadly positive but we need to be convinced that he is not just paying lip service to the requests and needs of businesses.

"He is championing London, and engaging with ourselves and other business organisations which is vital for the success of London's economy. However questions still remain in some areas, most noticeably in the area of airport expansion where although the Mayor has lifted objections blocking the expansion of London City Airport, and endorsed a second runway at Gatwick this is ahead of a second runway at Heathrow which LCCI believes should come first.

"Post referendum we are facing many new challenges and a lot of uncertainty and it is vital that we consult each other to ensure the best outcome for London"

ENDS

Media contact
Katharine McGee
T: +44 (0)20 7203 1897
M: +44 (0)7827 241528
E: kmcgee@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR:

1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital's largest and most representative business organisation, with members ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
2. Colin Stanbridge, chief executive is available for further comment and interview.
3. Sadiq Kahn said "The London Chamber of Commerce has talked about a "London visa", which is interesting." In a response to Fiona Twycross at MQTs on 20th July 2016.