Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: "Our stance remains that we wish to see the Corporation of the City of London abolished with the reform of Britain's last 'rotten borough', but until that's achieved, any improvement in the level of democracy and transparency in the City is to be welcomed."
The City Reform Group is aiming to encourage workers in the City to register to vote, and candidates to sign up to its pledge to act transparently in the common good and to reform City practices.
Natalie said: "It is pleasing that the Group is calling for transparency around the City Cash, a fund, built up over centuries through donations from individuals and companies, that we know has an income of at least £100 million a year, but the assets and uses of which the Corporation has refused to be open.
"That money should be an asset for all of the people of London, not the plaything of a few multinational corporations to be used to promote their own interests.
"Additionally, whilst the pledges the City Reform Group is asking candidates in next year's City elections to take are good - as is their move to encourage contested elections rather than the traditional 'coronations' in uncontested polls- we'd like to go further and call on candidates to pledge to support the ending of the post of Remembrancer in the Westminster parliament.
"This individual acting for the interests of the financial services at the heart of government, on the floor of the House of Commons and during the drafting of legislation, has no place in a democracy. Manufacturers, farmers, pensioners don't have such special representation at the heart of government, and nor should finance."
ENDS
Details of the City Reform Group can be found at: http://cityreform.org.uk/