Government

Greater London is divided into 32 London boroughs and the City of London, which are responsible for running most services in their respective areas.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is the London-wide body responsible for co-ordinating the boroughs, and is responsible for running London-wide services such as emergency services, transport, and strategic planning.

The GLA consists of the elected Mayor of London and the elected London Assembly, which scrutinises the mayor. The mayor is elected by the Supplementary Vote system while the assembly is elected by the Additional Member System.

The GLA was established in 2000 as a replacement for the former Greater London Council (GLC) which was established in 1965 and abolished in 1986 after several high-profile clashes between the GLC (also then lead by Livingstone) and the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.

Between 1986-2000 there was no central administrative body for London, and it was governed in piecemeal fashion by the individual boroughs and unelected agencies.

The Mayor and the Assembly will likely be in conflict with one or more Boroughs from time to time: they had each enjoyed "unitary status" and a fair degree of autonomy since the GLC was abolished.

Historically London was governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works (1855-1889) and then the London County Council (1889-1965).

From the Boundary Commission of England and Wales: Population of London, 1881 (http://www.londonancestor.com/misc/bc-pop.htm)