13/02/2006
As Hizonner the Mayor of LondON plans to open London Houses in Moscow, Beijing and Shanghai, it is it is interesting to note the record of London House in Brussels, already in existence and costing the London taxpayer three quarters of a million pounds a year.
According to its website
âLondon's European Office carries out three major functions:
Develops relations with EU institutions and relevant organisations
Monitors up-coming policies, directives and regulations
Ensures EU policy-makers are aware of London's interests and best practiceâ
Unfortunately, in response to any detailed questions, London House has consistently informed the One London Group that it actually represents and lobbies on behalf of its âoffice partnersâ. These are the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL), the London Development Agency (LDA), the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) and the London NHS. No sign here of âLondonâs interestâ.
In fact, last year One London did try to find out if London House had lobbied against the revision of the Working Time Directive, which was opposed by London businesses and business organizations, and were told that this could not be done.
âOn an issue such as this, where the Mayor has taken a view, we would certainly not lobby against that view, as we are staff of the Mayorâs Office.â
A cosy sort of an idea: the taxpayer pays and the Mayor uses the office as his own personal representatives. One wonders how this will play out in Moscow, Beijing and Shanghai.
Read the whole story of
Hizonner's legations.
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