Local government in London

The GLA is responsible for strategic planning, policing, the fire service, most aspects of transport and economic development.

It is a recent organisation, having been set up in 2000 to replace the similar Greater London Council (GLC) which had been abolished in 1986.

The current mayor of London is Sadiq Khan who was elected in 2016, replacing Boris Johnson, who served two terms.

The London boroughs each have a council made up from representatives from political parties and single issue organisations elected every four years by local residents The City of London does not have a conventional local authority, but is governed by the historic City of London Corporation which is elected by both residents and businesses, and which has existed more or less unchanged since the Middle Ages.

[3] The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allowed the creation of civil parishes (and parish councils) within London boroughs, if local residents request their creation through a petition.