London night czar to step down
Many have questioned whether she had the powers to make a meaningful difference given that licensing decisions remained in the hands of borough councils
Sadiq Khan’s London night czar Amy Lamé has announced that she will be stepping down at the end of the month after eight years in the role.
The night czar was a new role created by Mr Khan following his election as mayor in 2016 focused on the capital’s nightlife.
As it currently stands it is unclear whether Lamé will be replaced especially considering there has been much criticism of the role.
Many have questioned whether she had the powers to make a meaningful difference given that licensing decisions remained in the hands of borough councils.
Questions had also been raised about the size of her salary, which rose this year to £132,846.
Khan said: “I’d like to thank Amy for everything that she’s done as the capital’s first-ever night czar. She has worked hard to help London’s nightlife through huge challenges, including the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, and I know she will continue to be a key part of the industry going forward.”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, added: “During Amy’s eight-year tenure, while there has been criticism, several achievements must be recognised. Her work on women’s safety at night, and the establishment of enterprise zones, have been hugely beneficial for the sector.
“The role of night czar has always been crucial, but also an enormous challenge, especially during one of the toughest trading periods for the night-time economy. Representing such a vast market in a capital city like London is no easy task. I wish Amy well in her future endeavours.”
