Green AM: London Needs Wales-Style Powers to Tackle Housing Crisis
Green AM: London Needs Wales-Style Powers to Tackle Housing Crisis
A new Green Party Assembly Member argues London needs devolved powers on par with Wales and Scotland to effectively tackle its severe housing crisis and unique challenges.
London needs significantly more devolved powers, similar to those enjoyed by Wales and Scotland, to effectively address its pressing housing crisis, according to newly elected Green Party Assembly Member, Benali Hamdache.
Hamdache expressed his desire to see London granted fiscal powers comparable to its European counterparts like Madrid and Berlin, highlighting that City Hall's current capabilities are "far behind". He stressed that despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham granting Mayors across the country increased powers, such as the ability to levy an overnight tourist tax and retain a portion of income tax, a "huge gulf" in devolution still exists, particularly when compared to major global cities like New York.
The Green AM pointed out that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani can levy his own municipal income tax and impose property surcharges, capabilities far exceeding those of London's Mayor. Hamdache believes that closing this gap would empower the Mayor of London to raise more funds and significantly invest in housebuilding schemes across the capital.
He further argued that while it's positive to see other strategic authorities gaining more devolved powers, London faces a "unique" set of challenges that necessitate special treatment.
London has the least amount of devolved taxation powers compared to major European cities, while the challenges that London faces are very specific to this city,
Hamdache stated at a Centre for London fringe event during the Green Party's annual conference.
Highlighting the urgency, Hamdache cited the unusual situation of primary schools closing due to soaring house prices, a problem he believes could be addressed with London-specific policy levers. He also referenced the Greater London Council (GLC), disbanded in 1986, which possessed broader powers over areas like education and health.
Hamdache suggested that London is slowly moving back towards that level of autonomy but is still considerably behind.
London just has so many unique challenges compared to the rest of the country. And so I would love for London to have the freedom to set policy that works for London,
he concluded. More devolved powers, especially for generating income to spend on housing, would be "hugely, hugely powerful" and "hugely, hugely important" for delivering housing solutions on a strategic, London-wide level.
