Brown's agenda: London

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the prospects and challenges facing Gordon Brown in London.

Stakeholder Response: London First

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Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: "A new prime minister will have a new vision for the country, a new vision for London. 

"Our 'Ten for Number 10' sets out business priorities – the most important issues for government in maintaining the global competitiveness of the UK’s capital. 

"London’s current success cannot be taken for granted and the incoming prime minister must commit to the capital to safeguard UK economic well-being."

1. Make work pay – break the benefit trap, learning from Clinton in the US, and make a difference to inner London poverty
 
2. Get people into jobs, not just classes – listen to employers, refocus skills training and give people the skills to win and hold down jobs
 
3. Crossrail – deal or no deal? Commit the cash to kick off construction
 
4. Don’t play games with the Olympic legacy - appoint a cabinet-level Olympics Legacy ‘Tsar’ so that we don’t squander the legacy
 
5. Don’t squeeze the Tube – fund improvements to the Tube, make services more reliable and rush hour more bearable
 
6. Power to the people - give London’s elected politicians the tools to run London and slim down GOL (Government Office for London)
 
7. Tackle the jams choking our roads – commit to road pricing and plough money raised back into our roads, buses and open spaces
 
8. Streamline taxation – make it less complex and more attractive to new investment and high quality jobs
 
9. Simplify planning – encourage more house and office building with simpler procedures and better resourced council planning departments
 
10. Wanted: talented allcomers – Manage migration to give London the best workforce and effective public services.

 

Stakeholder Response: TfL

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A spokesman for TfL outlined the following challenges for the new Brown government:

• To continue investment for transport in London, including Crossrail and the PPP.

• To maintain the shift from car to public transport.

• And keep the capital moving, sustaining the capital's population along with its jobs and economic growth, which are helping drive the UK economy.