Changing London

Almost 9 million people live in London and its Mayor holds the UK's biggest directly elected mandate. London is a wonderful city, diverse, rich and full of talents but is it the best that it could be? More than a third of its citizens fear crime on the streets, 28% are in poverty, and the richest can expect to live 20 years longer than the poorest. The next mayoral election will be in May 2016 and the primary contests to choose the candidates will be in summer 2015. By voicing their ideas, hopes and aspirations for the new Mayor at this time Londoners have the opportunity to set a different agenda and to break new ground. To that end, the authors set up a Changing London website in November 2012 and invited contributions. This was to be a platform for generating and debating ideas, drawing on the experiences of other cities but also on the creativity and innovation of Londoners. The ideas and the discussion flowed freely. This book brings it all together under five big visions for London. Changing London didn't start with mayoral candidates and nor does it finish with them.The authors believe the business of change is a concern for us all, all of the time, and this book describes a new way for people to engage in the very real politics of their own environment. The ideas here, and the way they were captured, should inspire others way beyond London.