00:00Lord O'Neill says to get economic growth in Britain, you need to focus on London, the West Midlands and
00:06the Northern Powerhouse. Is he right?
00:10I fully agree with him that London is the powerhouse of the country.
00:16And what I want to do as Prime Minister through Number 10 North is free up London to go much
00:24further and faster.
00:26So what I've already done as Prime Minister is allocate funding through the Social and Affordable Homes programme.
00:33If London can free itself from the housing crisis and begin to build the homes that people can truly afford,
00:38then that means that it's in such a stronger place going forward.
00:42But also, Sadiq and other mayors have lobbied for the overnight visitor levy.
00:47And if that comes into London, what it will be able to do with the extra revenue that brings in
00:53to improve the visitor experience and cement its place as the world's most visited city.
01:02You know, this London can go to the next level.
01:07I want to work with Sadiq to make sure that he's got all the backing from me and Number 10
01:12North to take London forward.
01:14You signal that you're not about to embark on any landmark reform of property tax.
01:19But do you believe that higher end homes, many of which are in London, should be paying a higher level
01:25of property tax?
01:26Well, moves were made in the in the budget last year.
01:31Council tax has got to be fair across the country.
01:35And, you know, I don't have any further plans in that regard, but in this moment.
01:42But it's important, I think, that there's a sense of fairness between all parts of the country.
01:48We've got to make sure that, you know, London isn't seen from the outside as somewhere that gets different, different
01:57treatment.
01:58Obviously, there is different approaches apply in different places.
02:05But I think it's just really important that, you know, when it comes to fairness, you know, I don't want
02:11to see a situation where there's resentment towards London.
02:14I wrote in my book with the mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rothen, we wrote, we love London.
02:19We're proud of London.
02:20It's our capital city.
02:21We're patriotic people.
02:23We want London to do well.
02:24But the best thing is that London doesn't, if you like, become different and remote from other parts of the
02:30country.
02:30And that's really important.
02:32And you're facing growing expectations of being anti-loved.
02:35Is that a problem, even just a perception?
02:38Oh, I heard what the Tory, but it's not the candidate yet, but hopeful to be the candidate, said.
02:47I mean, what a ludicrous statement that is.
02:50As I've just said, I love London and I have no hesitation in saying that.
02:55But also look at what I've done as Prime Minister.
02:58I mentioned housing funding recently.
03:00If you look at the recent allocation from the Social and Affordable Homes programme, you will see that London was
03:07the significant beneficiary.
03:08And the reason for that is because London has got more advanced housing powers, it's been able, with its 30
03:14or so boroughs, develop stronger plans to build a new generation of council housing in London.
03:19And what we've done is we've set up London now with the funding to do that, to be a template
03:24then for other parts of the country so that they can follow the same path and then move in the
03:29same direction.
03:30And do you back Sadiq Khan for a fourth term in office?
03:32I think he's been a brilliant mayor of London.
03:35If you look at the leadership on clean air, that is something that Sadiq deserves great credit for.
03:43You know, sometimes politicians take difficult decisions.
03:46They don't always get applauded at the time.
03:47But when that improves the health of millions of Londoners, then you've got to say one politician to another.
03:54That is leadership.
03:55I respect it.
03:56But he's done so much more as well.
03:58I could reel it all off.
04:00But, you know, Sadiq is a real exceptional politician, a real leader.
04:04And absolutely, I'd love him to stay here as long as he wants.
04:10And I would certainly be behind him.
04:12And very final question.
04:13Best pub in London?
04:15Now you're asking.
04:16I mean, the trouble is I've probably been, as you know, in pretty much every one over the years because
04:20I mean it when I say I love London.
04:23And I love London pubs for certain.
04:24And I think London pubs are even possibly better than some in the north of England.
04:30You know, you are spoiled for pubs.
04:31So I could reel off a lot.
04:34The doghouse in Kennington is one that I always feel quite fond of.
04:39Yeah, I've had many a good night in there.
04:41Thank you very much, Prime Minister.
04:42Thank you very much.
04:43Thank you very much.
