The Conservatives at City Hall have asked Sadiq Khan to do what Andy Burnham did as mayor of Greater Manchester and hire a freelance “industry expert”
Amy Lamé, who was London’s night watchman, began her last day at City Hall on Thursday. It is still unclear who will take her place in office.
Earlier this month it was reported that Ms Lamé would be leaving her job, but she was in post until Thursday 31 October.
a “ much-needed ambassador for the city after dark” was appointed by mayor Sadiq Khan shortly after his election in 2016. Her role was to “capitalise on the growth of London’s night-time economy” and “look at ways to create a safer, more responsible nightlife for the city’s residents.”
But although Mr Khan said the tsarina had “worked hard to help London’s nightlife through major challenges, including the pandemic and the cost of living crisis”,” Ms Lamé was repeatedly criticised by people who said she was not doing enough to prevent the closure of nightclubs in the capital.
It has also been questioned whether she has enough power to make a difference and the size of her salary, which has risen to £132,846 this year. Decisions on licences are still made by district councils.
City Hall said on the day of Mrs Lamé’s departure that there would be no further information about the appointment of a new czar for the night.
At the time of her resignation four weeks ago, the mayor’s office said the problems with the capital’s nightlife would be investigated by a “London Nightlife Taskforce” before a decision was made on her future.
In his election manifesto, Mr Khan had promised to set up such a taskforce, whose remit would be to “examine and address the issues facing our city’s night-time hospitality and culture” – a new London Nightlife Fund” will help it do its job better”.
But on Thursday, a spokesman for the mayor would not say when the taskforce would be fully formed, let alone when its review would be completed.
He said: “The mayor is committed to supporting nightlife in the capital and work is still ongoing at City Hall until 6am to support all aspects of nightlife.”
“This includes the forthcoming formation of a new London Nightlife Taskforce, that will look at the issues facing the industry and resolve them.” Any decision on the role of the night boss will be made once their work is complete.
At the moment it is believed that Ms Lamé’s duties have been given to Howard Dawber, Khan’s Deputy mayor for Business, and Justine Simons OBE, Khan’s Deputy mayor for Culture.
The Conservatives at City Hall have said Ms Lamé should be replaced by a “volunteer industry expert”, following the example of Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who has Sacha Lord working as an unpaid consultant on the night-time economy.
The proposal comes from a study on how to protect and improve London’s nightlife. It was written by Emma Best, who is deputy leader of the Tories in the London Assembly.
She told the Standard that Mrs Lamé was “collapsing London’s nightlife and closing venues at a rate not seen anywhere else in the country.”
She continued: “I once again urge the Mayor of London and Lamé’s successor, if there is one, to read my report and follow the proposals to help London’s nightlife get back on its feet.” Talk to the people who have an interest in the issue, pay attention to the owners of the venues and get Londoners back out in the evenings.
This month the mayor’s office said the Night Czar had “supported hundreds of venues since 2016” and “played a key role in reopening Fabric, protecting the 100 Club, securing the future of the Printworks, reopening the Black Cap after 10 years of closure and opening the Drumshed.”
On learning of her retirement, Mrs Lamé said she was “deeply proud of what she has achieved in the face of so many challenges.” She emphasised that she had campaigned for women to be safer and for boroughs to draw up their own night-time plans.