Have your say in London elections

1:04pm Friday 11th April 2008

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Elections will be held for London's assembly and mayor on May 1. Reporter CHARLOTTE McDONALD takes a look at the candidates.

MOST people are aware of the upcoming vote for London Mayor.

However, fewer people are aware of the London Assembly elections taking place on the same day.

Bob Neill, who has been the assembly member for Bexley and Bromley for the past eight years, is stepping down to concentrate on his role as MP for Bromley and Chislehurst.

There are 10 people hoping to take his place.

Mr Neill said: "It's hugely important there are constituency members.

"It is especially important to have a voice for outer suburbs like Bexley and Bromley.

"The people who live here keep London going.

"It's time to stand up for the outer boroughs and I look forward to whoever succeeds me taking that up."

The London Assembly was created in 2000 and has 25 members, 14 of which are elected to represent their constituencies.

Another 11 are elected from a list to make the total members from each party proportional to the votes cast for them across the whole of London.

The mayor's jobs are to create London-wide plans and policies and to run transport, police and fire services.

The Assembly can hold the mayor to account on subjects such as transport, policing, health, housing and emergency planning.

It can also, with a two-thirds majority, change the mayor's budget, which is about £9bn a year.

The Assembly also carries out its own investigations and makes reports and recommendations to the mayor.

Residents with a serious concern can contact an assembly member and ask them to investigate the matter.

Anyone not currently registered to vote can fill in a form giving their name, nationality and address.

The form can be downloaded from londonelects.org.uk which also explains the responsibilities of the London Assembly and the mayor and how to vote in the elections.

To be able to vote, people must register by April 16.

WHO WILL WIN YOUR VOTE AT POLLS?

The candidates for Bexley and Bromley are:
James Cleverly - Conservative Party
David Davis - Left List
Ann Garrett - Green Party
Mick Greenhough - UK Independence Party
John Hemming-Clark - Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital
Alex Heslop - The Labour Party
Tom Papworth - Liberal Democrats
Miranda Suit - Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party
Steven Uncles - English Democrats
Paul Winnett - National Front

The candidates for the London mayoral elections are:
Richard Barnbrook - British National Party
Gerard Batten - UK Independence Party
Sian Berry - Green Party
Alan Craig - Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party
Lindsey German - Left List
Boris Johnson - Conservative Party
Ken Livingstone - Labour Party
Winston McKenzie - Independent
Matt O'Connor - English Democrats
Brian Paddick - Liberal Democrats