Peter Cuthbertson writes:
ConservativeHome readers keen to know how their Member votes in the London Assembly's may be as surprised as we were to know that the Assembly does not keep a record of how Members vote.
After finding no information on the GLA web site, we called them up directly, and were put through to their Public Liaison Unit. The person on the other end answering our request was extremely helpful - but the information was simply not available.
Votes in the London Assembly are taken by a simple show of hands, she explained. Minutes of meetings are kept, but the way in which Members vote is not recorded except in cases where they specifically ask that this occur. These are not secret votes - anyone so inclined can turn up in the gallery and record what they see if they are quick enough - but this is entirely up to them.
A webcast is also available of each meeting for six months, we were told. The webcasts themselves, however, show only exceptionally grainy hours-long meetings, with no indication of when or whether any votes were taken. The video quality is so poor that the name plates of the members cannot be read. Alternatively, one can contact either Ed or Rebecca - two GLA staffers - to ask if they were in the meeting and if they recall who voted which way!
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