Amy Lamé, London’s first night czar, announced on Wednesday that she is stepping down from her role championing the capital’s late-night culture, saying it is “the right time for me to move on”. But her departure, much like her eight-year tenure, has bitterly divided those who work, play, drink and dance after dark across the city.
To her supporters, the broadcaster and performer has been a committed and effective advocate for the night-time economy ever since Sadiq Khan appointed her in 2016. To her detractors, she’s “done more damage to culture than the Taliban” and proved that we don’t really need a night czar in the first place – an argument perhaps tacitly acknowledged by the mayor’s office declining to mention plans for a successor. “The forthcoming London Nightlife Taskforce will examine and address the issues facing the industries,” a statement read. “Any decisions on the night czar role will be taken once they have completed their work.”
