Greater London Authority Bill

In most cases they have shared executive power. Again, it is a shared executive of up to 10 members. It is not personal power. That may change when the local government Bill is enacted, but we can deal with that when we get to that Bill. The principle is the difference between a presidential and a parliamentary system, and most UK local government still has a parliamentary system. When and if that changes, this is one of the implications that we will have to deal with. London was the first place to have an elected Mayor, and we have a Bill that enables us to deal with this issue. Whether the Government and legislators choose to follow that precedent is a matter for elsewhere and for another time. This is an opportunity that I believe quite strongly that we should take. When I speak to colleagues, not particularly in America but on the Continent, they are surprised that we have a Mayor of London with no term limit at all. That does not mean that we have to follow what others do, but we have to learn and think carefully about the reasons why others do as they do. That is why we tabled the amendment. As I did not move the lead amendment, I cannot withdraw it. I will leave that to the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham.