Labour bid to block plans for unelected mayors

CONTROVERSIAL Government plans to turn four Yorkshire council leaders into powerful mayors without voters having a say are under threat as MPs seek to block the move.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs are set to unite to try to block the creation of “shadow mayors” in Wakefield, Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford before voters are able to decide whether they want an elected mayor next spring.

The Government plans – which flout a promise not to impose mayors without the backing of voters – have infuriated councillors and MPs, and now Labour has tabled amendments to the coalition Government’s flagship Localism Bill. Some Liberal Democrats are also unhappy, and are ready to vote with Labour.

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Shadow Local Government Secretary Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley, said: “The Tory-led government is imposing shadow mayors on cities regardless of whether they want one or not. That’s both unfair and undemocratic and Labour is tabling amendments to the Localism Bill to oppose it.

“Elected mayors can offer effective leadership, which is why Labour in government gave people the power and opportunity to elect them. But it must be up to local people to decide, not [Local Government Secretary] Eric Pickles sitting in his office in Whitehall.”

Under current plans, the coalition wants referendums in England’s 12 largest cities – by council populations – next May, with the first mayors being elected in 2013 if there is a “yes” vote.

Ministers argue that a single figure in charge who can be held to account at the ballot box will improve the quality of local government leadership, and other cities wanting a referendum will be encouraged to hold a vote as well.The new round of mayors would have extra powers that those in place at the moment – such as Peter Davies in Doncaster – who have mixed records.

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While the post of London Mayor is widely deemed to have been a success, elsewhere in the country some mayors have been less than effective.

There are also concerns over the financial implications, with the Government admitting referendums and first elections could cost £3.5m in the four Yorkshire cities alone.

But the most contentious aspect of the plans is to turn existing council leaders into shadow mayors when the Localism Bill is passed – before any referendum takes place. The Government insists this is a natural move, but critics fear it is calculated to help boost the chances of a Yes vote.

Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield said it was “not acceptable in today’s democracy” and welcomed the amendment.

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He said: “If people decide they want an elected mayor that’s what they should have, but do it following a vote. When you’ve got somebody imposed on the people they’re often not very much liked or welcomed.

“I think the idea of a referendum is OK where people have an opportunity to say yea or nay. What’s not right is putting you in a position where there’s been no vote.”

The Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East, David Ward, said he would back the amendment, and would also argue next week against cities being forced to hold a referendum against their will.

He said: “My view is that it should be for the councils to decide if they want to go down the referendum route. The referendum shouldn’t be imposed.

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“I believe in local democracy and I believe many of the measures in the [Localism] Bill undermine the role of locally elected councillors. If [Bradford Council leader] Ian Greenwood’s got anything about him he will refuse to take on that shadow role.

“This is just nosy interference in what should be the arrangements of a local authority.”