When Ken Livingstone was Mayor of London there were a staggering 265 press officers employed altogether in the Greater London Authority. Boris Johnson has pledged to cut their numbers but progress appears to be slow. Staff in the Mayor of London's core press office have been reduced from 16 to 15, while the London Assembly press office has been cut back from 10 to eight.
The armies of press officers for TfL, the police and assorted agencies remain intact. "The Mayor has asked for a close examination of the GLA group to suggest where savings may be made without undermining the efficiency of the various organisations," a spokesman told me after a rather inefficient two week delay in responding.
"The First Deputy Mayor, Tim Parker, will take a close look at the findings when he takes up his position in July." Among those currently still at their posts is the head of the "Strategy" press office Joe Derrett who used to be the London Regional Press Officer for the Labour Party before going to spin for Ken Livingstone.
