Mayor Ken's monthly marathon

Mayor Livingstone took questions for nearly three hours

By BBC News Online's John Walton

It sounded more like a lovers' tiff than some of the first faltering steps taken by the UK's newest democratic institution just days before London Mayor Ken Livingstone formally takes up the reigns of power.

"You seem to spend more time with the Queen than with me - I don't know what's going on," was the accusation from Greater London Assembly chair Trevor Phillips.

"He's got a new girl," he added, almost to himself.

Mr Phillips seemed a little miffed that Mr Livingstone has been hobnobbing with the royals, resplendent in morning dress and all, rather than spending time with the GLA.

Nevertheless he dutifully brought to order the second of the mayor's monthly question time sessions.

At almost three hours long it was a marathon compared with the 30 minute sprint undertaken by Prime Minister Tony Blair round the corner in the House of Commons once a week.

Trevor Phillips: "My wife's a psychotherapist"

Luckily for any member of the public in danger of getting bored, the fire exits had been clearly pointed out before proceedings got under way.

And perhaps luckier still, the mayor sits with his back to the audience. Hence there was no danger of Mr Livingstone being offended by the sight of anyone choosing to sneak out mid-performance.

There appeared at first, though, to be some confusion as to what spectators could expect from the event.

Conservative GLA member Richard Barnes made clear he hoped for an improvement on the last session, saying it had been "poor politics, and poor entertainment."

But though the GLA question time is billed as an exemplar of new politics, with little of the gladiatorial aspects of its Westminster counterpart - all participants stay seated and there is no cheering or jeering from the terraces - one member took on the role of chief scrutineer.

Quizzing the mayor

John Biggs was his name. First, the Labour member for City and East demanded to know if Mr Livingstone's mayoral cabinet was simply an old Greater London Council "committee in exile".

Mr Livingstone said politely that there were only three onetime GLC members in his GLA top team.

But he also took the opportunity to point out that there was nothing wrong with appointing former GLC figures, since it had after all been "the high point of human civilisation".

The politics of inclusion

Mr Biggs charged at the mayor again. Having a new style cabinet with - as the mayor had dictated - none of the traditional collective responsibility was surely, he said, like "riding a horse backwards".

He said the mayor's leadership style "does demonstrate inclusiveness, but I don't quite believe it".

Where are the lines drawn, he wanted to know? Would the mayor discipline his cabinet if they were to take wild policy positions like backing fox hunting in London, for instance?

Control

Mr Livingstone said he didn't think a system of collective responsibility was right for London. What's more, after 20 years of strong government from Westminster he didn't want to impose "discipline and control" on the capital's politics.

Other members of the GLA took turns to hold the mayor to account, but before long Mr Biggs was back.

This time he wanted to know if the mayor had a vision for London. Was his plan to consult Londoners on what ails the capital simply a front to disguise the weaknesses of his mayoral manifesto?

Building consensus

The mayor said he was asking Londoners their views in order to build and deepen consensus on the way forward.

He added that he had a feeling that if he hadn't begun the public consultations, Mr Biggs would have been the first to complain.

Mr Livingstone said: "I'm never going to win with John.

"But the most disturbing thing is that he looks exactly like my father."

And which point Trevor Phillips intervened with a helpful suggestion: "My wife's a psychotherapist".