London mayor Sadiq Khan has told the capital’s local government to keep up the pressure on Whitehall in its battle for fiscal devolution.
Speaking at the London Summit today, Mayor Khan admitted that it had been ‘tough’ to persuade the Government to act but urged councils to ‘carry on trying’.
He said greater devolution to City Hall and London councils was crucial to his vision of creating a fairer capital.
Mayor Khan, who was a Wandsworth LBC councillor for 12 years, was appearing three days after the chancellor announced the capital would be given greater control of the adult education budget and the delivery of employment support services for the ‘hardest to help’ – way short of a full devolution deal.
He said: ‘I’m pleased in part that government has listened and responded. We’ve made some hugely positive first steps but it’s the beginning of the process – not the end.
‘We’ve made some crucial first steps in the right direction on devolution for London but we still have some way to go.
‘Some of you have been talking to government for years and have the scars to prove it. Devolution is how we deliver more public services for London in a different and more efficient way.
‘It’s not going to come easy but it’s worth the hassle and it’s worth the fight.’
