Royal Commission on the Amalgamation of the City and County of London the ancient City of London had been prominent political topics since the 1830s. Recommendations by royal commissions given in 1837, 1854 and 1867 had largely been left unimplemented. The Local Government Act 1888 had set up a County of London which surrounded, but did not include, the square-mile and main business district of the City of London. London was therefore governed by the Corporation of London at its core and the London County Council for its metropolitan area. When the first London County Council was elected, the Progressive Party, closely allied to the parliamentary Liberals, took control. The first chairman
Flag of the City of London it is hanging down (see below). This flag does not represent Greater London (which does not have its own flag, aside from the banner of the arms of the former Greater London Council), only the historical City of London which covers approximately . All references in this article relate to that city, not Greater London, unless specified. The flag is a banner of arms, derived from the city's coat of arms with the sword symbolising the sword that beheaded Saint Paul who is the patron saint of the city. Saint Paul has featured as a symbol of the city since