- Written by Tim Donovan, Tom Edwards, Sonia Jessup, Carl Mercer and Tara Welsh
- Political editor, BBC London
Image source, Getty Images
What does the future hold for London and Londoners?
In the past twelve months, London has had its ups and downs. Celebrations, commemorations, and even coronations.
So, with the door closing in 2023, what will happen in 2024? BBC London experts provide their predictions.
Tara Welsh is a work and money correspondent at BBC London
Image source, Getty Images
Many will continue to work from home or follow a hybrid model
The cost of living has been one of the major issues for Londoners and this may continue to be the case in 2024.
The rate of price rise (inflation) may be slowing but prices remain high, especially for food. Combined with record high rents and rising interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments, things have been very difficult for some families.
Rents are expected to continue to rise but not as sharply as we saw in 2023, and home prices are expected to fall according to analysts.
But finding a safe and suitable home has not been easy for many Londoners. In 2023, we have reported several times about the difficult circumstances some are facing.
New legislation aimed at improving things for renters could become law this year with Tenants (Reform) Bill.
But housing will still be a huge issue, and in an election year we can expect to hear potential promises and policies to build more housing.
The way some Londoners work is still changing since the pandemic. As more people head into offices, hybrid and remote working will remain the norm for many this year. The impact of technology can affect capital in other ways as well.
A recent government report It found that London was the part of the country most vulnerable to the impact of AI due to the number of professional roles held in the capital that could be affected.
Tim Donovan, political editor, BBC London
Image source, Getty Images
The mayoral election will be held in May, and a general election will likely be held sometime in 2024
In 2024, Londoners need to brace themselves for a storm of flyers littering their doormats and political ads crowding social media, all because of two elections: a mayoral election and a general election.
The mayoral election is scheduled to be held on May 2, and will see the Labor Party’s Sadiq Khan seek a third term.
Will the abbreviation Ulez (Ultra Low Emission Zone) for the first time prove to be a key factor? Voters will consider the impact on air quality, and which candidate has the solutions to push the net-zero emissions agenda forward.
Will violent crime or housing prove anything as fears shape voting patterns?
In the weeks ahead, there will be negotiations on a new post-Covid transport funding deal for the capital that will remind us how divided – broadly speaking – the Tory government and Labor mayor have been in the past few years.
Although the general election does not have to be held until January 2025, some believe that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may go to the country on the same day as the municipal elections; More assume it will be a fall affair. Either way, expect the election campaign to begin now.
In London, a large majority of members of parliament, like city councils, currently belong to the Labor Party. It will be difficult for the Conservatives to block this, and their campaign hopes for progress are likely to rest elsewhere.
Sonia Jessop, BBC home affairs correspondent in London
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It could be another difficult year for the Metropolitan Police
2024 will see the Metropolitan Police continuing to try to persuade Londoners to change, with plans to reduce crime and increase public confidence.
But it will face new challenges.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has already warned of a £250m funding gap, and is concerned about recruitment – the force is short of about 1,000 officers.
There are also concerns about the impact on local police protests as officers are diverted away from their normal roles.
Will the Metropolitan Police be able to deliver on promises, including strengthening community policing and preventing violence against women and girls?
Will new approaches, such as using data and technology to reprioritize resources, and the stop-and-frisk pilot projects launched last summer, begin to show real change?
Other key developments to watch out for in the coming year:
Tom Edwards, BBC London transport and environment correspondent
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Continuing the transition to low-carbon transport can be difficult
Many issues could come to a head in 2024.
The largest is probably the ole’s. Conservative candidate Susan Hall will repeal this law if she becomes mayor – a stark contrast to current Labor candidate Sadiq Khan, who, in opposition, has expanded the law to cover the whole of the capital.
There is no doubt that the Olise Party is unpopular in some quarters and has support in others. Given the 95% figure and the fact that if you live in the Home Counties you don’t vote for the Mayor of London, the big question is: will opposition to or support for the Ollies Party translate into votes?
More broadly, decarbonising transport and a sustained shift to low-carbon transport may be difficult, and the often heated debate over whose roads should be predominantly in the capital – car traffic, pedestrians or cyclists – does not show which A sign of decline.
Carl Mercer, BBC health correspondent in London
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The continuing conflict means that reducing waiting lists is becoming more difficult
The new year will bring a challenge that highlights two of the major issues facing London’s health service: strikes and long waiting lists.
The ongoing industrial movement will see junior doctors exit in the first week of January – traditionally one of the busiest weeks for the NHS following the Christmas holidays and mounting winter pressures.
In addition to putting additional pressure on the service, the ongoing conflict means that waiting lists are difficult to deal with.
More than a million Londoners are awaiting action and the strike will increase that number.
NHS chiefs in London have called on the government and junior doctors to find a way out of the dispute, and with the election approaching, there will be a huge focus on NHS promises.
New hospitals have been promised at Whipps Cross, Hillingdon, Epsom and St Helier, but final plans and budgets have yet to be announced.