QUEEN'S SPEECH FAILS TO DELIVER ON GREATER POWERS FOR ELECTED LONDON GOVERNMENT

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th May 2005

Commenting on the omission in the Queen's Speech of any pledge to increase powers for the Greater London Authority while promising to provide greater powers to the Welsh Assembly, Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope, said:-

"It appears that ministers still have strong reservations about handing Ken Livingstone further powers. It almost seems as if they don't want to give him extra rope in case he hangs the Labour Party in London.

"It is deeply disappointing that Labour has failed to implement their manifesto pledge to review the powers of the Greater London Authority and the London Assembly. The Bill put forward in the Queen's Speech to give the Welsh Assembly greater power would have been an ideal opportunity for the government to give greater power to the elected London government."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The Queen's Speech indicated that there would be legislation introduced to reform the National Assembly for Wales.

The Government of Wales Bill would provide for enhanced legislative powers for the Assembly and make some changes to the body's electoral system

.

It would also change the 'corporate status' of the Assembly and ensure that the legislature and executive were legally separate entities.

The Labour Party manifesto stated:-

"We will also review the powers of the London Mayor and Greater London Authority. And we will devolve further responsibility to existing regional bodies in relation to planning, housing, economic development and transport."