City of London Corporation elections

Summary

The City of London Corporation elections occur regularly to provide the elected representatives who run the City of London Corporation.

There are 25 wards in the City of London which are represented on the Court of Common Council by an Alderman and a number of Common Councilmen. The electors of the ward are registered annually with forms being sent to all residents and businesses in the City. This enables the registered voters to vote on the relevant ward list.[1] In March 2013 there were 12,479 business votes and 6,504 residential votes. Also only 27 per cent of the electorate were women.[2]

Ward elections edit

Common Council elections take place every four years. Aldermanic elections take place every six years.[1]

Wardmote edit

All registered voters are invited to a wardmote. Where the number of candidates nominated equals the number of vacant places, those candidates are automatically returned. Nevertheless, a wardmote is held, where the voters of the ward can meet and question the candidates. If a poll is required it is held at this meeting.[1]

Sheriff elections edit

The City of London has two sheriffs, the Aldermanic Sheriff and the Non-Aldermanic Sheriff.[3] They are both elected by the "Livery assembled in Common Hall" around Midsummers day.[3]

Leadership edit

The role of Lord Mayor of London is largely ceremonial. Political leadership on the corporation is instead provided by the chair of the policy and resources committee (also known as the policy chairman), who is sometimes described as the "de facto political leader". The policy chairman represents the City on the leaders' committee of London Councils, alongside the leaders of the 32 London Boroughs.[4][5]

Since 1984, the policy chairmen have been:[6][7]

Member Party From To
Peter Rigby Independent 1984 1991
Michael Cassidy Independent 1991 1996
Judith Mayhew Independent 1996 2003
Michael Snyder Independent 2003 2008
Stuart Fraser Independent May 2008 3 May 2012
Mark Boleat Independent 3 May 2012 4 May 2017
Catherine McGuinness Independent 4 May 2017 5 May 2022
Chris Hayward Independent 5 May 2022

Recent years edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Ward elections - City of London". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. City of Londonb Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ^ Walter, Luke. "Disrupting the City of London Corporation elections". www.redpepper.org.uk. Red Pepper. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b Pullman, Nigel. "Election of Sheriffs". www.liverycompanies.info. Livery Committee. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Your Councillors". City of London Corporation. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  5. ^ "New political leader for Square Mile as Hayward takes vital Corporation role". City A.M. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Council minutes". City of London Corporation. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 1 July 2022.