Johnson seeks devolved powers for London

Boris Johnson is seeking a new devolution deal for London to give it greater powers over skills, criminal justice, transport and housing.

The Mayor of London, whose tenure ends in less than a year, has reportedly met Greg Clark, the Communities Secretary, to discuss new powers. He has united with London Councils, the umbrella group for the city’s boroughs, to make a list of demands.

It comes as ministers move to delegate new powers to several cities. Jules Pipe, the mayor of Hackney who chairs London Councils, said there was “a real risk of London falling behind even Cornwall” in its level of influence over areas such as skills.