The Greater London Authority (Referendum) Act 1998 (c. 3) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which made legal provision for the holding of a non-binding referendum in Greater London on whether there should be a democratically elected Assembly for London and a separately elected Mayor for London.
The government published a green paper with the title New Leadership for London in July 1997. This laid out the principles of the GLA: a strong mayor and a "strategic" assembly.
The act legislated for the holding of a non-binding referendum to be held on 7 May 1998 in Greater London on whether there should be a democratically elected London Assembly and a separately elected Mayor for London and legislates for the appointment a Chief Counting Officer to oversee the referendum.
The full proposals were confirmed in a March 1998 white paper entitled A Mayor and Assembly for London which set out the full details of the proposal. details.
The legislation was supported by the Association of London Government. The Conservative Party criticised the lack of separate votes for a mayor and an assembly.
The act legislated for a non binding referendum to be held in Greater London on 7 May 1998 on the issue of a Greater London Authority and enables the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to appoint a Chief Counting Officer to oversee the referendum.
The question that appeared on ballot papers in the referendum before the electorate under the act was:permitting a simple YES / NO answer.
The 32 London boroughs would be used as the counting areas for the referendum.
Following the successful outcome of the vote the Greater London Authority Act 1999 was passed by the UK Parliament and the Authority came into being following elections in 2000.