Published
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 10:10
- Ahead of Thursday's election, we run through the four main candidates' nightlife pledges.
London goes to the polls next Thursday, May 2nd, to choose its next mayor. But what are the main candidates' views on nightlife?
Incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan—who according to the polls is on track to extend his eight-year tenure—has had a turbulent time on the nightlife front. On paper, the introduction of a night czar in 2016 was a step in the right direction, but the perceived ineffectiveness of the role has been latched onto by rival candidates at a time when venue closures appear to be reaching crisis point. His recent assertion that London is "leading the world in its 24-hour policy" was met with ridicule across the club scene and political spectrum.
Whoever does become mayor will face an uphill struggle. The latest Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) report found that 1,165 nightlife businesses closed between March 2020 and December 2023. Given the bleak economic climate, things are likely to get worse before they get better.
Here are the four main candidate's nightlife pledges.
Sadiq Khan, Labour
Khan has pledged to "continue to protect the music venues, creative studios, pubs and clubs that make London such a dynamic creative capital." He also said he'll create a new London Nightlife Fund and London Nightlife Taskforce that will examine and address the issues facing the industry.
Susan Hall, Conservatives
Tory candidate Hall's plans for nightlife centre around the extension of the night tube, in a bid to help women get home more safely at night and boost the night-time economy. If elected, she said she'd provide all-night weekend services on the Hammersmith & City Line "as soon as possible," followed by the District, Circle and Metropolitan lines "when feasible."
Zoe Garbett, Green Party
In an interview with King's College student newspaper Roar last December, Garbett described clubbing as "the core and the fabric of London." The Green Party candidate's nightlife policy focuses on enforcing the Agent of Change principle.
"I think that it's incredibly important [that] people moving into a new area can't complain and shut down a venue that's been in existence for a long time," she said. Garbett also wants to support grassroots spaces by putting a levy on the ticket profits of big venues.
Rob Blackie, Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats candidate Rob Blackie has been one of the most fervent critics of night czar Amy Lamé, describing her 24-hour city remarks as "utterly deluded." In terms of policies, Blackie will trial a hail-and-ride scheme for buses after 10 PM on routes with no night tube.
Photo: Jake Philip Davis