EIGHTY per cent of Londoners agree that London needs a strategic authority.
The abolition of the GLC was deeply resented by the great majority of residents of the English capital. So it is a very good thing that Labour intends to introduce regional government to London once again.
Nick Raynsford, Minister for London has made it clear that the government's motivation is different - Now best to market London to big business.
This is what lies behind the particular proposals which will are to be put to a vote next May - unless there is a massive campaign in the next month to get something better on offer. The window of opportunity is short as the consultation period on the proposals ends on October 24.
The most discussed of the proposals so far is that London should have an directly-elected Mayor rather than a Leader chosen from the existing representatives. Such a beauty contest has already seen suggestions that the 'choice' might include Richard Branson and Lord Archer...
But it is far worse than that. The proposed Mayor will not be a figurehead in the way that local Mayors are in this country, but by far the most powerful person in the whole set-up.
Small assembly
There will be a small Assembly with representatives covering large areas - probably equivalent to the existing Euro-constituencies.
The Mayor will have most of the power. He or she will have responsibility for drawing up the budget which the representatives can then question. There is no suggestion however that they can put forward alternatives or even substantial amendments. Some "authority" this!
The Assembly will have some influence in the areas of policing, fire. and civil defence, transport, economic development, arts and leisure and planning, many of which are currently tun through quangos.
While the mechanism in each of these areas will be slightly different they will be run through bodies separate from the Assembly itself. In the case of the police authority the members will be selected by the Mayor alone from members of the Assembly.
The lack of democracy in these proposals is breath taking - the Assembly has little power and the Mayor a great deal.
The Labour front bench have made it clear that there will be no more money for the Authority. Its funding will come from other bodies that are currently doing the work. Without revenue-raising powers of any clout, there will be no chance of following in the best traditions of the old GLC.
That is of course precisely what Blair is so keen to avoid - a power centre that could put forward a different way of doing thins to his own.
Beginning
Debate in trade unions and Labour parties in London is only just beginning - but the consultation period ends soon. The Regional Executive of the Greater London Labour Party, followed by some rather nebulous consultation with CLPs, gave the bureaucracy the wrong answer - so now the full time officials have hastily called a special Conference of GLLP on October 12. It is not clear that this is intended to discuss alternative points of view - but it must demand the right to.
It is positive that the Greater London Association of Trades Councils has submitted a useful critique of the government's proposals to the consultation and is now planning a 'People's London' campaign.
If this is to be effective in demanding a real choice in the may referendum and finding a way to prevent a strategic authority that will almost be worse than the status quo its support needs to be broadened.
The debate needs to be stepped up. Send your comments or those of your union or Labour Party by October 24 to: The London Debate, Government office for London, 10th Floor, Riverwalk House, 157-161 Millbank, London SWIP 4RR
Euromarch campaign still on the road! & BUROPEAN ONIOO Terry Conway A RECALL conference on September 20 brought together the majority of marchers from the British leg of this summer's Euromarch, together with a layer of their supporters.
As well as discussing the year's Necessar in particular rememurupcai Socialist Outlook year. Plans are at a fairly early stage not least because of the Welsh referendum campaign.
It seems clear that the scale of mobilisation in Amsterdam cannot be repeated, but a major demonstration with delegations from Europe does look feasible.
The meeting elected an interim steering committee and agreed to a recall meeting by December. Other