London governance 'redundant', say Conservatives seeking travel-to-work area authority

Conservatives in London say in a new report that the current devolution powers for London are now "redundant" given its growing population, likely to hinder its status in the "global-race".

The Greater London Authority Conservatives say that whilst the Chancellor has moved to create a "Northern Powerhouse," there is a need to devolve further powers to London and the South East too, and that the GLA should cover a larger "Thames City Region" to make it the third largest city economy on the planet.

The Conservatives' report says that a "super local enterprise partnership" covering the wider South East as well as the capital would allow economic development to be co-ordinated. As part of this, they want the authorities to create new graden suburbs to meet London's future housing needs outside the current built-up area and to gain control over all rail lines and major commuter routes so that neglected areas.

"To London's detriment, the capital is not part of a formal regional governance structure as its competitors New York, Paris and Berlin are. The current city-boundaries were decided upon over sixty years ago. The time has now come... for the extent of London's influence to be examined. Many of London's transport issues are often significantly impaced by areas outside the confines of Greater London."

"London will, in a collegiate manner, need to exert greater influence over policy decisions outside of the M25."