Time Out's campaign for a democratic London

After our success, against all odds, in putting forward our man Michael Hodges as the Time Out candidate for Mayor, we’ve decided to notch our campaign up one step further. We’re putting together an early day motion (a formal motion submitted by MPs for debate in the House of Commons) to address the barriers facing Londoners who want to stand as Mayoral candidates. We’ll be asking MPs to support the EDM, with a view to changing existing legislation on the subject.

Here’s what we’re proposing:

‘That this House notes the requirement to gain 330 signatures from ten different boroughs and the City of London in order to stand in London Mayoral elections is an inherently unfair barrier to independent candidates; further notes that the minimum amount of money required to stand for Mayor, £10,000, is a potentially insurmountable barrier to independent candidates. We propose replacing these requirements with 100 signatures and £5,000 respectively and call for urgent action from the Government to change the Greater London Authority Act 1999 accordingly so London can have a truly democratic system of government that is open to all.’

Lobby your MP to back this motion, and enter your email below to sign our petition

Terms and conditions

Closing date: Tuesday March 31 2009