Mayor should scrap business rates says think-tank

As London’s mayoral race enters its final lap, a think-tank has drawn up 10 policy proposals for the next London mayor.

To be published over ten days, Centre for London which is an offshoot of Demos, says the policies are “practical, cost-neutral, innovative and broadly devolutionary.”

Here are the five policies published so far:

1. Devolve London’s transport investment and let London employers set their own levy, Centre for London says: “Our first proposal is to scrap business rates – currently set by central government – and replace them with a levy collectively set by London’s employers” 

2. Introduce pop-up parishes or community improvement districts around London to tackle local problems and make neighbourhoods safer

3. Give the Mayor control over Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme

4. Tighten tax loopholes that allow wealthy foreigners to buy property in the capital and ride-free on the city’s success

5. Give cyclists more freedom on London’s roads

More on Centre of London’s policies