London Select Committee

Yesterday Labour forced through a vote to create a London select committee to scrutinise London issues.

Hang on, that's my job.

The most worrying element of this vote was that the government clearly hasn't got a clue about the Mayoralty and assembly that they created.

Take this exchange from yesterday's debate.

"Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon) (Lab): A very good example of that is the current review of acute stroke and major trauma services going on within NHS London, in which the boroughs are advancing different positions. As a regional issue that is below the radar of the Select Committee on Health, is that not an ideal example of how a London Committee could do some value-added work to hold NHS London to account and check whether those proposals are indeed in the interests of Londoners?

Ms Harman: I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. As a Member of Parliament for a London constituency, I know that there are issues on which London MPs, working through a Select Committee, could achieve greater accountability on my constituents’ behalf. Health issues, for example, inevitably cross constituency boundaries. They do not fall within the purview of the London boroughs and are not the responsibility of the assembly. On their own, they would justify the work of a Regional Select Committee"

Funny thing is that on Tuesday the London Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee (which I chair) had the Chief Exec of NHS London in to scrutinise acute stroke and major trauma reconfiguration.

Until Harman knows what she is talking about I recommend she shuts up.

This whole plan also flies in the face of the government's claim to embrace devolution. Incompetence and lies all in one day.