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Mayors

Sadiq Khan's Power Grab: The Politicisation of London's Streets

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

London's mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, is steamrolling through his plan to pedestrianise a large part of Oxford Street, disregarding local concerns and opposition. The project, aimed at creating a tranquil green space, has been met with skepticism, with critics arguing that it will exacerbate congestion in surrounding areas, such as Soho, and hinder local businesses. Sir Sadiq's reliance on the Mayoral Development Corporation, a mechanism that allows him to bypass local decision-makers, has raised eyebrows, with some accusing him of an abuse of power.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sir Sadiq Khan's plan to pedestrianise a large part of Oxford Street has been met with opposition from local residents, business owners, and politicians, including Tim Lord, chairman of the Soho Society, and the Labour leader of Westminster City Council.
  • The Mayoral Development Corporation, a tool used by Sir Sadiq to accelerate the project, has been criticized for its potential to concentrate power in the hands of the mayor.
  • Soho, an area that could be successfully pedestrianised, will instead experience increased congestion due to the rerouting of 16 bus routes into narrow, congested one-way streets.
  • The project has been criticized for its lack of consideration for local residents, who will have to navigate a mile-long detour to reach a bus stop.
  • Sir Sadiq's handling of the project has been accused of being power-hungry, with some comparing him to other mayors, such as Marvin Rees of Bristol and Peter Soulsby of Leicester, who have been criticized for their authoritarian styles of governance.
  • The concentration of power in the hands of a single mayor has been criticized by experts, including George Jones, emeritus professor of government at the LSE.
  • The plan has sparked a debate about the role of mayoral powers in local governance and the need for greater oversight and accountability.

Statistics:

  • 1,500 years: The length of time that Oxford Street has been used as a thoroughfare.
  • 1 mile: The length of the pedestrianised area on Oxford Street.
  • 16 bus routes: The number of bus routes that will be rerouted into narrow, congested one-way streets in Marylebone and Fitzrovia.
  • 178 days: The number of days in a year that it rains in Leicester, a city with a public square plan that has been criticized as "delusional".
  • PS132million: The estimated cost of the Colston Hall music venue redevelopment in Bristol.
  • 14 minutes: The length of a Ted Talk delivered by Marvin Rees on the climate crisis.

Sources:

  • Byline: WILLIAM SITWELL
  • The Telegraph (no specific date mentioned)
  • More in Common (no specific date mentioned)
  • LSE (no specific date mentioned)
  • The Guardian (no specific date mentioned)

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