Blair promises mayor will have power

London is preparing itself for a landmark referendum

Tony Blair issued a rallying call for Londoners to back his government's plans for a directly-elected mayor and assembly for the capital.

He promised that the role of mayor would be "a post that is going to have power, real power".

The British Prime Minister was trying to drum up support for what promises to be a radical new form of government in London.

But first the plans must be endorsed by Londoners themselves, who will vote in a "yes/no" referendum early next month.

Tony Blair: "The mayor will have the power to change things"

Mr Blair was speaking at a debate organised by the London Evening Standard and later broadcast by BBC 2's Newsnight programme.

His carefully chosen words were aimed at silencing critics who say that the mayor will be nothing more than a powerless figurehead.

"There is no question that the mayor will have the power to change things for the better," said Mr Blair.

"On transport, crime, jobs and the environment the mayor will have the power to make a difference and will be expected by Londoners to do so."

Norman Fowler: "We would have preferred two questions"

But Mr Blair also recognised that the debate is becoming obscured by the personalities of potential candidates.

A poll carried out by the Evening Standard revealed that 66% of those asked would like to see the entrepreneur and businessman Richard Branson in the capital's top job. Speaking on the televised debate, Mr Branson said he was "unlikely" to stand.

The former leader of the abolished Greater London Council, Ken Livingston, also polled highly. Now a Labour MP, his old-style left-wing politics are out of touch with the current government's thinking.

Mr Blair said speculation about the probable mayor should wait until after the referendum on May 7.

MPs from Britain's three main political parties were present at the debate. They each, in turn, expressed backing for a "yes" vote in the referendum, although there was some disagreement about the details.

Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Fowler thought there was a "strong case" for a mayor.

"But we didn't want a directly elected assembly," said Mr Fowler.

Only show in town

"We would have preferred two questions in the referendum: whether you are in favour of a mayor and whether you are in favour of an assembly."

Simon Hughes would prefer the mayor was elected by the assembly

Simon Hughes MP, London spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, voiced his party's initial opposition to an elected mayor.

"We argued that London should have an elected government but we would have preferred that the mayor came from the assembly."

Asked why the Lib Dems were campaigning for a "yes" vote, Mr Hughes said: "It is the only show in town."

The Minister for London, Nick Raynsford, denied that many of his party's grassroots members were opposed to a directly elected mayor.

But George Brooker, Labour Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, stood up to protest.

Grassroots Labour against

Simon Fawthrop, leader of the "no" campaign

"The grassroots of the party has made it clear we want an elected assembly but we do not want an egotistical so and so as a mayor, dictating the kind of policies he or she wants," said Mr Brooker.

It was left to the leader of the "no" campaigner Simon Fawthrop to articulate support for the status quo.

"We will have higher council tax, more bureaucracy, less effective local government. London doesn't need a political beauty contest every four years. It needs more power for its communities," he said.

Other contributions to the televised debate included those from the former mayor of New York, David Dinkins, and Francesco Rutelli, the current mayor of Rome.