The City of London is one of the world’s leading international
finance centres. As head of the City of London Corporation, which
provides business and local government services to the City, the
Lord Mayor of London's principal role today is ambassador for all
UK-based financial and professional services. The Lord Mayor of
London is not the
Mayor of (Greater) London.
Promoting UK-based financial and professional services
The Lord Mayor is elected for one year and the position is
unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The
Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000
people face-to-face each month (making around 800
speeches a year). Read more about the
Lord Mayor's international business role, and his
overseas visit programme.
The Lord Mayor listens to City businesses and advises the
Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial
services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels
to represent the City and is treated overseas as a Cabinet level
Minister. On average, the Lord Mayor will meet one head of state a
month and will meet a prime minister or finance minister each week
to discuss financial service. (often in conjunction with senior
City business representatives) The Lord Mayor lives in
the Mansion House for the Mayoral year. Read more about
the
Lord Mayor's role in London and
how to become Lord Mayor, and about the current Lord Mayor's
Financial Literacy project.
Head of the City of London Corporation
The Lord Mayor supports the work of the City of London
Corporation promoting the financial services industry in the UK.
This is a reflection of the importance of this area of business
activity for the UK economy as well as the importance the
organisation attaches to its electorate - which includes City
workers! The Lord Mayor also supports the City of London's other
responsibilities, from providing excellent services to the local
community, to maintaining parks, museums and arts spaces around
London, and schools in neighbouring boroughs. The Lord Mayor
presides over the City of London's
governing bodies – the Court of Aldermen and the Court of
Common Council.
The Lord Mayor's Other roles
Read more about:
To see other business photographs of the Lord Mayor visit the
Picture Library.
To contact the Lord Mayor, email
mansion.house@cityoflondon.gov.uk or
write to him at Mansion House.
Lord Mayor's Show
Each year the new Lord Mayor takes part in one of the most
ancient and colourful of London's traditions.
Read
more about the Lord Mayor's Show