UK: Civil society’s agenda for London

London, with a bigger GDP than Switzerland or Sweden, is one of the most powerful (and expensive) cities in the world. On May 1st 5.5 million Londoners will cast their votes to decide which of the ten candidates will win the mayoral race and take on the biggest personal mandate of any British politician. A race that appears to be more about personalities ? notably those of the two favourites, current mayor and Labour candidate Ken Livingstone and Tory MP Boris Johnson ? than about policy. But local politics, the real protagonist of these elections, is about policy, and both the electors and civil society have made it clear that they expect concrete solutions from whoever steps up as Mayor this year.

At the top of the list of the election priorities sit environmental concerns. Green Party candidate Sian Berry is not alone in wanting a ?fairer and greener London?: Ken Livingstone says he will introduce a £25 charge on the ?worst gas guzzlers in the central London congestion charging zone? if re-elected, while Johnson aims to encourage London boroughs to recycle more if made mayor.

But civil society?s concerns lie elsewhere. The mayor that will be in charge of preparing the city to host the 2012 Olympic games is expected to focus on two key priorities: social enterprise and youth. The leading candidates, including Livingstone, Johnson and Berry, have already committed to a social enterprise Charter for London. The Charter, produced by Social Enterprise London, an agency that supports the city?s social enterprise sector, expects the new local government to ensure that social enterprises take on an increasingly strategic role in the delivery of public services.

?We need to recognise the enormous value that such community-centred businesses add as they trade, and increase the opportunities that they have to deliver services to London?, stated Sian Berry, who ?wholeheartedly? supports the Charter. ?Businesses that trade with a social purpose?, said Livingstone, also known as ?Red? Ken, ?will help create a sustainable future for London?. The Tory candidate offered his support to the social enterprise movement and said he was ?happy? to commit to the Charter. But the targets that the SEL expects of the next mandate sets high stakes: to create 800 thousand jobs within the social enterprise sector and 25 thousand new sustainable businesses with a revenue of £20 billion and to make London the home of the ?Top 50? social enterprises with annual turnovers of at least £60 million. All by 2020.

Meanwhile, nine major charities have formed a coalition to lobby the London mayoral candidates on child protection in the capital. The coalition, that includes Barnardo?s, The Princes Trust and the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations, reminded candidates that more than 650 thousand children live in poverty in London and 11% of young people are unemployed. ?London is one of the most prosperous, diverse and exciting cities in the world? said Delroy Pomell, coalition member and Chair of the NCVCCO, ?but too many children and young people continue to be affected by poverty, poor health and crime?. The future mayor of London, who will be presented with a series of recommendations early on next week, is called on to work in partnership with the voluntary sector and put the needs of the 1.7 million young Londoners first.

To find out more about the elections:

• www.londonelects.org.uk