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Lords vote to curb mayor's reign Mayor raps Tory 'election plot'
(about 1 hour later)
The Lords have voted to limit the Mayor of London to two terms of office which would prevent the current mayor from standing for re-election in May. Ken Livingstone has accused Tory peers of denying Londoners a fair choice after they voted to limit the number of terms any mayor can serve to two.
But the government said it would seek to overturn the move in the Commons. "It is up to Londoners, not parliamentarians, to decide who is mayor," said Mr Livingstone, who hopes to seek a third mandate in May 2008.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly said "it is for Londoners, not the lords, to decide who should be mayor". House of Lords Conservatives warned the office had become "the nearest thing we have to a dictator".
Opposition peers warned there was a risk that without the curb the office could become too powerful. The government said it would look to overturn the move in the Commons.
Planning and waste 'No confidence'
The Lords voted 177 to 159 during the Greater London Authority Bill's report stage.The Lords voted 177 to 159 during the Greater London Authority Bill's report stage.
The Bill gives Ken Livingstone more powers over strategic issues such as planning and waste. The Bill gives Mr Livingstone more powers over strategic issues such as planning and waste.
For the Conservatives, Baroness Hanham said she was not referring to Mr Livingstone, and told peers: "The office of mayor now in this country is the nearest thing we have to a dictator.
If he is a dictator the best way to remove him is to remove him by a democratic process Baroness AndrewsIf he is a dictator the best way to remove him is to remove him by a democratic process Baroness Andrews
"This is further evidence that David Cameron has no confidence in his party's candidates for mayor," said Mr Livingstone.
"They seem to have decided they can't win next year's mayoral election through fair means so now they have resorted to changing the law to prevent a fair choice."
Opposition peers warned there was a risk that without the curb the office could become too powerful.
Baroness Hanham, a Conservative, told peers: "The office of mayor now in this country is the nearest thing we have to a dictator.
"There is very little that can stop the mayor doing what he wants to do.""There is very little that can stop the mayor doing what he wants to do."
She went on to deny that it had anything to do with the current mayor.She went on to deny that it had anything to do with the current mayor.
Mr Livingstone has twice been elected London mayor and the next mayoral poll is due next May. Mr Livingstone has twice been elected London mayor, once as an independent in 2000 and as the Labour candidate in 2004. The next poll is due in May 2008.
Opposing the move junior communities and local government minister Baroness Andrews said: "To remove the right of Londoners to vote out the mayor is a fundamental change. It should not be contemplated lightly. Opposing the move, Labour peer Baroness Andrews said: "To remove the right of Londoners to vote out the mayor is a fundamental change. It should not be contemplated lightly.
"If he is a dictator the best way to remove him is to remove him by a democratic process.""If he is a dictator the best way to remove him is to remove him by a democratic process."
Ms Kelly added: "This is yet another policy U-turn from the Tories and all because they can't find a candidate to beat Ken."