Londoners will feel reassured that the London Fire Authority recently received the highest possible rating in all 5 operational areas assessed by the government department responsible for monitoring these things. So why then is this Labour government pr

Londoners will feel reassured that the London Fire Authority recently received the highest possible rating in all 5 operational areas assessed by the government department responsible for monitoring these things.

So why then is this Labour government proposing to tinker with what is clearly a winning formula? The Greater London Authority Bill currently going through Parliament seeks to give Mayor Livingstone ground-breaking new powers to direct operational matters at the Authority (a field in which he has no expertise) and to replace 2 elected Members on the Fire Authority with his own political appointees.

Many Londoners have grave doubts about the way in which the mayor is exercising his existing powers _ and must surely have concerns about our fire service being handed over to him on a platter? It is also demonstrates yet again this government's tendency to extend politicians'

powers of patronage. New Labour, New Cronyism!

Yours faithfully,

David Allen

66 Shepherds Hill

London

N6