Editing Greater London Authority (section)

==Creation==
The Labour Party advocated a government structure comprising a single, directly elected mayor (a policy first suggested by [[Tony Banks, Baron Stratford|Tony Banks]] in 1990), together with an elected deliberative assembly to scrutinise them. This model was based on the [[mayor–council government]] of many American and Canadian cities rather than the parliamentary-style GLC. Indeed, it was partly aimed at making sure the new body resembled the erstwhile GLC as little as possible. After Labour won the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], the policy was outlined in a [[white paper]] entitled ''A Mayor and Assembly for London'' (March 1998).

Simultaneously with the elections to the London Borough councils, a [[1998 London referendum|referendum]] was held on the establishment of the GLA in May 1998, which was approved with 72% of the vote. The [[Greater London Authority Act 1999]] passed through Parliament, receiving [[royal assent]] in October 1999. Most polling showed that Livingstone, the last leader of the GLC, would easily win the mayoral election. However, in a controversial election campaign, the then prime minister, [[Tony Blair]], attempted to block the nomination of Livingstone, a factional rival, and imposed his own candidate. In reaction, Livingstone stood as an independent candidate, resulting in his expulsion from the Labour Party. In March 2000, [[2000 London mayoral election|he was elected]] as Mayor of London, pushing Labour's candidate into third place. Following an interim period in which the mayor and assembly had been elected but had no powers, the GLA was formally established on 3 July 2000.