This is a list of the various heads of local government organisations that have served

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, England.

Summary of metropolis-wide heads of government

The

Metropolitan Board of Works The Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) was the principal instrument of local government in a wide area of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent, defined by the Metropolis Management Act 1855, from December 1855 until the establishment of the London Cou ...

, created in 1855, was the first elected authority covering the whole metropolis of London, including the suburbs outside the ancient boundaries of the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

. The area of the Metropolitan Board of Works became the

County of London The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government A ...

in 1889, which was enlarged to become the county of Greater London in 1965. The

leaders Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets view ...

of these bodies were:

City of London

Lord Mayor of London

The Lord Mayor of the

is an ancient office and is the chief position of the

Corporation of London The City of London Corporation, officially and legally the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, is the municipal governing body of the City of London, the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United King ...

. *

List of Lord Mayors of London List of all mayors and lord mayors of London (leaders of the City of London Corporation, and first citizens of the City of London, from medieval times). Until 1354, the title held was Mayor of London. The dates are those of election to of ...

The Metropolis

Chairmen of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers

The

Metropolitan Commission of Sewers The Metropolitan Commission of Sewers was one of London's first steps towards bringing its sewer and drainage infrastructure under the control of a single public body. It was absorbed by the Metropolitan Board of Works on 1 January 1856. Format ...

was an ''ad hoc'' body formed in 1849 to bring London's sewerage and drainage under the control of a single public body. In 1856 it was abolished with its powers passing to the Metropolitan Board of Works. *

Viscount Ebrington A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...

(1 January 1849 – 6 October 1851) * Edward Lawes (6 October 1851 – 24 July 1852) * Richard Jebb (24 July 1852 – 1 January 1856)

Chairmen of the Metropolitan Board of Works

The

was a general purpose authority for the metropolitan area of London from 1855 to 1889. * Sir John Thwaites (22 December 1855 – 8 August 1870) (died in office) * James Macnaghten Hogg (18 November 1870 – 21 March 1889)

Chairmen of the London School Board

The London School Board was an ad hoc authority. The functions were eventually absorbed by the London County Council. * Lord Lawrence (15 December 1870 – 10 December 1873) * Sir Charles Reed (10 December 1873 – 25 March 1881) (Died in office) * Edward North Buxton (5 April 1881 – 3 December 1885) * Rev. Joseph Diggle (3 December 1885 – 6 December 1894) *

Lord George Hamilton Lord George Francis Hamilton (17 December 1845 – 22 September 1927) was a British Conservative Party politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who served as First Lord of the Admiralty and Secretary of State for India. Backgroun ...

(6 December 1894 – 3 October 1895) * Marquess of Londonderry (31 October 1895 – 2 December 1897) *

Lord Reay Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Reay (pronounced "ray") is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Mackay, whose lands in Strathnaver and northwest Sutherland were known as the Reay Country. ...

(2 December 1897 – 30 April 1904)

Chairmen of the Metropolitan Asylums Board

The

Metropolitan Asylums Board The Metropolitan Asylums Board (MAB) was established under Poor Law legislation to deal with London's sick and poor. It was established by the Metropolitan Poor Act 1867 and dissolved in 1930, when its functions were transferred to the London Count ...

was an ad hoc authority. The functions were eventually absorbed by the London County Council. * Dr. William Brewer (22 June 1867 – 3 November 1881) (died in office) * Sir Edwin Galsworthy (26 November 1881 – 18 May 1901) * Sir Robert Hensley (18 May 1901 – 19 May 1904) * Sir Augustus Scovell (19 May 1904 – 25 May 1907) * J. T. Helby (25 May 1907 – 28 May 1910) * Walter Dennis (28 May 1910 – 31 May 1913) * Sir Robert Woolley Walden (31 May 1913 – 24 May 1919) * Very Rev. Canon Norman Sprankling (24 May 1919 – 20 May 1922) * Walter Eickhoff (20 May 1922 – 24 July 1924) (died in office) * Sir Francis Morris (31 July 1924 – 19 May 1928) *

Viscount Doneraile Viscount Doneraile () is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the St Leger family. It was first created in 1703 for Arthur St Leger, along with the subsidiary title of Baron Kilmayden, also ...

(19 May 1928 – 1 April 1930)

County of London

The

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

was a county council covering the

Chairmen of the London County Council

The chairmanship and vice chairmanship of the London County Council were statutory offices created in 1889 and abolished in 1965. The positions were largely ceremonial, similar to the office of mayor in a borough. The council's standing orders also provided for the post of deputy chairman. Each of these offices were held for a one-year term of office.

Leaders of the London County Council

The post of Leader was only officially recognised in 1933. This table gives the Leaders of the majority parties on the council before this time, although in the first term this had little relevance in terms of the leadership of the Council. * Sir Thomas Farrer (21 March 1889 – 27 March 1890) * James Stuart (27 March 1890 – 9 March 1892) *

Charles Harrison Charles Harrison may refer to: * Charles Harrison (artist) (1942-2009), British Conceptual artist & member of the artist group Art & Language * Charles Harrison (Australian politician) (1915–1986), member of the South Australian House of Assembly ...

(9 March 1892 – 10 March 1898) *

Thomas McKinnon Wood Thomas McKinnon Wood PC (26 January 1855 – 26 March 1927) was a British Liberal politician. Regarded as a liberal with "sound Progressive credentials," he served as a member of H. H. Asquith's cabinet as Secretary for Scotland between 1912 a ...

(10 March 1898 – 8 March 1907) * Richard Robinson (8 March 1907 – 11 March 1908) * Hon. William Wellesley Peel (11 March 1908 – 8 March 1910) * William Hayes Fisher (8 March 1910 – 19 December 1911) * Cyril Jackson (19 December 1911 – 16 March 1915) *

Ronald Collet Norman Ronald Collet Norman JP (15 November 1873 – 5 December 1963) was a banker, administrator and politician. He was chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC from 1935 to 1939 and of the London County Council from 1918 to 1919. Biography ...

(16 March 1915 – 1 March 1918) * Sir George Hume (1 March 1918 – 11 March 1925) * Sir William Ray (11 March 1925 – 9 March 1934) *

Herbert Morrison Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, (3 January 1888 – 6 March 1965) was a British politician who held a variety of senior positions in the UK Cabinet as member of the Labour Party. During the inter-war period, he was Minis ...

(9 March 1934 – 27 May 1940) *

Lord Latham Charles Latham, 1st Baron Latham (1888–1970) was a British politician and Leader of the London County Council from 1940 to 1947. Early life and career Latham was born with the surname Lathan in Norwich, and changed his name in order to d ...

(27 May 1940 – 29 July 1947) * Sir Isaac Hayward (29 July 1947 – 31 March 1965)

Greater London

Leaders of the Greater London Council

The Greater London Council was the county council for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. *

Bill Fiske William Geoffrey Fiske, Baron Fiske, CBE (3 July 1905 – 13 January 1975) was a British politician who was the first Leader of the Greater London Council and oversaw the decimalisation of the pound sterling as Chairman of the Decimal Currenc ...

(11 April 1964 – 14 April 1967) *

Desmond Plummer Arthur Desmond Herne Plummer, Baron Plummer of St Marylebone, TD, DL, FRSA (25 May 1914 – 2 October 2009) was a British Conservative Party politician in London and the longest serving Leader of the Greater London Council 1967–1973. Educ ...

(14 April 1967 – 13 April 1973) * Sir Reg Goodwin (13 April 1973 – 6 May 1977) * Sir

Horace Cutler Sir Horace Walter Cutler (28 July 1912 – 2 March 1997) was a British Conservative politician who served as leader of the Greater London Council from 1977 to 1981. He was noted for his showmanship and flair for publicity and was, in several way ...

(6 May 1977 – 8 May 1981) * Ken Livingstone (8 May 1981 – 2 August 1984) * John Wilson (2 August 1984 – 21 September 1984) * Ken Livingstone (21 September 1984 – 31 March 1986)

Leaders of the Inner London Education Authority

Although

Inner London Education Authority The Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was an ad hoc local education authority for the City of London and the 12 Inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990. The authority was reconstituted as a directly elected body corp ...

was created in 1964 and came into its powers in 1965, the post of Leader did not exist until April 1967. For the period 1964–67 the ''de facto'' Leadership was shared between the Chairman of the Education Committee, James Young, and the Chairmen of the Authority, Harold Shearman (from 1964–1965) and

Ashley Bramall Sir Ernest Ashley Bramall (6 January 1916 – 10 February 1999) was a British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Bexley from 1946 to 1950 and Leader of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) for 11 years. Family and early c ...

(1965–1967). * Christopher Chataway (19 April 1967 – 20 March 1969) * Lena Townsend (20 March 1969 – 10 April 1970) *

(10 April 1970 – 8 May 1981) * Bryn Davies (8 May 1981 – 19 April 1983) * Frances Morrell (19 April 1983 – 5 May 1987) * Neil Fletcher (5 May 1987 – 31 March 1990)

Chairman of the London Residuary Body

The

London Residuary Body The London Residuary Body was a body set up in 1985 to dispose of the assets of the Greater London Council after the council's abolition in 1986. Similar residuary bodies were set up for the metropolitan counties. After the abolition of the Inn ...

was responsible for disposing of the assets of the Greater London Council. * Sir Godfrey 'Tag' Taylor (26 July 1985 – 30 June 1996)

Mayor of London

The

Mayor of London The mayor of London is the chief executive of the Greater London Authority. The role was created in 2000 after the Greater London devolution referendum in 1998, and was the first directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom. The current m ...

is the executive of the Greater London Authority. The role has existed since 2000. * Ken Livingstone (4 May 2000 – 3 May 2008) *

Boris Johnson Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (; born 19 June 1964) is a British politician, writer and journalist who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He previously served as F ...

(4 May 2008 – 8 May 2016) *

Sadiq Khan Sadiq Aman Khan (; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting from 2005 until 2016. A member of the Labour Party, Khan is on the party's sof ...

(9 May 2016 –)

Timeline for leaders of London-wide government

;Timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20 AlignBars = late DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/04/1964 till:01/01/2021 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:8 start:01/04/1964 Colors = id:con value:rgb(0.094,0.525,0.8) legend:Conservative id:lab value:rgb(0.937,0.094,0.129) legend:Labour id:ind value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) legend:Independent Legend = columns:4 left:150 top:24 columnwidth:100 TextData = pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:"Leaders:" BarData = barset:PM bar:Fiske bar:Plummer bar:Goodwin bar:Cutler bar:Livingstone bar:none bar:Johnson bar:Khan PlotData= width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:PM bar:Fiske from: 01/04/1964 till: 01/04/1967 color:lab text:"

Fiske Fiske is a surname of Scandinavian origins. According to ''Burke's Peerage'', "The family of Fiske has long flourished in the counties of Norfolk (recorded as landowners in the Domesday Book) and Suffolk England.html"_;"title="n_England">n_Englan ...

" fontsize:10 bar:Plummer from: 01/04/1967 till: 01/04/1973 color:con text:" Plummer" fontsize:10 bar:Goodwin from: 01/04/1973 till: 01/04/1977 color:lab text:" Goodwin" fontsize:10 bar:Cutler from: 01/04/1977 till: 17/05/1981 color:con text:" Cutler" fontsize:10 bar:Livingstone from: 17/05/1981 till: 31/03/1986 color:lab text:" Livingstone" fontsize:10 bar:none from: 31/03/1986 till: 02/05/1997 color:darkblue fontsize:10 from: 02/05/1997 till: 04/05/2000 color:red text:"No London government" fontsize:10 bar:Livingstone from: 04/05/2000 till: 10/06/2004 color:ind fontsize:10 from: 10/06/2004 till: 04/05/2008 color:lab text:" Livingstone" fontsize:10 bar:Johnson from: 04/05/2008 till: 09/05/2016 color:con text:"

Johnson Johnson is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning "Son of John". It is the second most common in the United States and 154th most common in the world. As a common family name in Scotland, Johnson is occasionally a variation of ''Johnston'', a ...

" fontsize:10 bar:Khan from: 09/05/2016 till: 24/01/2020 color:lab text:" Khan" fontsize:10

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:London government List of heads Lists of mayors of places in England