London Mayoral Election

The nursing profession are the life blood of city’s health and care service.  They play a vital role in caring for Londoners and help to tackle health inequalities. 

But, chronic staff shortages, rising waiting lists, increasing incidents of violence and aggression towards staff and the cost-of-living squeeze are pushing many in the nursing profession to the brink.  London's NHS has nearly 9,000 vacant nursing posts, as well as thousands of unoccupied posts in social care.

The mayoral election on the 2 May is an opportunity for London’s nursing community to come together and use their collective voice to make sure nursing is high on the political agenda of the incoming Mayor. 

The Mayor of London has the power to take decisions that could make a significant difference to the lives of the capital’s nursing community. They have specific responsibilities for housing and transport, two key issues pushing nursing staff out of the city.  

As a national figure with a high-profile role, they can also play a key role by amplifying concerns of nursing staff such as on issues around nursing pay and nurse staffing levels.  

So, if you live in London, make sure you use your vote.   

1. Publicly support the RCN’s campaign for Fair Pay For Nursing
   Nursing staff are chronically undervalued. Despite nursing being a highly skilled, degree-educated, safety-critical profession, outdated pay structures mean that many nursing staff begin and end their careers at the same pay level. In a survey from January 2024, 55% of RCN London members said that they are likely to leave nursing altogether within the next 5 years.
   
   
2. Advocate for increasing nurse staffing levels in London to ensure safe and effective care for patients
   Safe staffing means having enough nursing staff with the right skills and knowledge, in the right place, at the right time. Currently, London's NHS has nearly 9,000 vacant nursing posts, as well as thousands of vacant posts in social care. Staff shortages can mean essential care tasks are left undone, and many Londoners having to wait longer for treatment. 
   
   
3. Take urgent action to protect nursing staff from acts of violence and aggression
   Our members are telling us they are experiencing an increase in violence and aggression from patients, service users, and/or their families. This is unacceptable. Every nursing staff member deserves to feel safe and secure in their workplace. However, service pressures and short staffing, particularly the lack of mental health nurses, are putting some nursing staff in hazardous and unsafe situations.
   
   
4.  Make access to genuinely affordable housing a priority for nursing staff
   Access to affordable housing is key to attracting and retaining London’s nursing workforce. In a survey from January 2024, 58% of RCN London members said the most common reason for moving out of the capital was the lack of affordable housing.  
   
   
5. Introduce free travel on public transport for nursing staff
   In a survey from January 2024, 80% of RCN London members said they were reliant on public transport to get to work and, after increased pay and cheaper rented accommodation, they said discounted travel would be key to keeping them in the city.   
   
   Unlike other public sector workers, such as Metropolitan Police officers, nursing staff do not get free travel on public transport. Like police officers, registered nurses have a specific duty to intervene should a passenger become unwell, however, nurses have yet to be afforded the same privilege of free travel.

There are lots of ways in which you can show your support:

• Write to the candidates from the main political parties and ask them to be a champion for London's nursing community and speak up for you 

• Like and share our messages on social media. Follow us on Facebook: @RCNLondon or X: @RCNLondon

• Make sure you are registered to vote if you live in Greater London 

• Vote on 2 May. Remember to bring your photo ID

The Mayor of London can be a champion for nursing staff and can challenge the government. The next Mayor must pressure the government to support Fair Pay for Nursing and advocate for increasing staffing levels in the capital. To find out more information about the different campaigns click on the links below:

• Fair Pay for Nursing campaign
• Safe Staffing Campaign 

Although the Mayor has no responsibility for delivering health and care services, the Mayor is in a great position to champion the healthcare needs of Londoners and support nursing staff.  

The Mayor has some key powers that affect the quality of life of nursing staff, such as housing and transport policies.

The Mayor is responsible for running Transport for London (encompassing the Tube, DLR, London Overground, TFL Rail and Tram), so could grant free travel on these.  The Mayor also has a role in helping to deliver affordable homes for Londoners.

So yes, the Mayor certainly will have powers that could make a difference to nursing staff.  

There are a number of candidates who are running for the Mayor of London election. To see them all click here. 

These are the candidates from the main established parties, you can click on their names to go to their campaign pages: 

Susan Hall - Conservative

Zoe Garbett - Green

Sadiq Khan - Labour 

Rob Blackie - Liberal Democrat

The London Mayoral election takes place on 2 May. 

If you live in Greater London and you are on the electoral register you can vote in the Mayor of London election.  

You can register to vote online in just a few minutes.  

Your application to vote must be received by midnight on 16 April. 

From May 2023, if you want to vote in person at the polling station you will need to present an accepted form of photographic ID to prove your identity, even for proxy votes.

There are a wide range of accepted forms of photo ID which can be found here. 

If you don't have a photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID. The deadline to apply for this Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. 

In 2022 the UK Government passed the Elections Act which made a number of changes to how we vote in the UK.

The Act changed the way we vote for the Mayor of London, as well as other directly elected mayors in England. 

Previously voters were able to make a first and second choice vote. This voting system was called the Supplementary Vote.

Under the new system, voters can make one choice only. This system is called First Past the Post.

It is also used for UK Parliamentary elections. The way we vote for the London Assembly has not changed.

Find out more about how to vote in London.

On 2 May you’ll also have the opportunity to vote for Assembly Members who are responsible for holding the Mayor to account, making sure the Mayor delivers on promises made to Londoners. You can find out more about the London Assembly and its work here. 
  
You can find more information about the voting system for London Assembly members here.