Alderman, Ladies & Gentlemen,
After one of his lengthy, repetitive speeches Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev confronted his speechwriter. “I asked for a 15 minute speech, but that lasted an hour!” The speechwriter replied: “Comrade, it was 15 minutes, but I gave you four copies…”. You’ll be glad to hear I have a single copy.
After 40 years working in the Ward in accountancy, stockbroking and founding the City’s leading Think Tank, thanks to you I have served as Sheriff and Lord Mayor of London with the theme “Connect To Prosper“, celebrating the many Knowledge Miles of our Square Mile, the world’s coffee house, promoting our City of London’s intense concentration of successful knowledge networks as the solution centre for our planet’s wicked problems with initiatives on mental health, ethical AI, smart networks, space junk, constructing science, and sustainable finance.
As the creator of the Global Financial Centres, Smart Centres, and Global Green Finance indices, I know what makes cities work. Since taking office 11 years ago the City’s workforce has grown from 380,000 to 678,00 and in just the past 12 months from 615,000 to 678,000 workers, a 10% increase!
I’ve been deeply involved in the transformation to accommodate this huge growth, the Elizabeth Line, removing shredder vans, cycling, changes to Bank junction. I know what makes our ward work having overseen the renovations of Austin Friars and Angel Court.
My passion for our Trading Ward, our Dutch Ward, dates to working here from 1984 when the Stock Exchange was around the corner. I want to take us further with a:
- Vibrant economy
- Safer streets
- Modern infrastructure
- Competitive attractiveness
- Community spirit
I never wanted to be AN Alderman, I wanted to be THE Alderman of Broad Street Ward, and you are the people who will decide if that continues.
Both the Constitutions of the USA and Russia guarantee freedom of speech. Perhaps, but only one guarantees freedom after the speech – and now you’re free of mine. I ask you to vote tomorrow, on my birthday no less, for Michael Mainelli, so we can continue to Connect & Prosper.
Thank you.
Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli,
Professor Michael Mainelli FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS
Chairman, Z/Yen Group Limited
Alderman for Broad Street
Late Lord Mayor of London 2023-2024; Sheriff of the City of London 2019-2021
Furniture Makers’ Hall, 18 December 2024