Ministers accused of bribery over mayoral referendums

COUNCILS will be reimbursed by the Government for the cost of holding elected mayoral referendums after criticism the polls are being forced on voters.

A series of South Yorkshire Labour MPs yesterday criticised the move to hold a referendum in Sheffield in May amid claims there is no appetite for the idea in the city.

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said Ministers were trying to “bribe” voters by offering to hand over extra powers to an elected mayor, but refusing to say whether it would do so if people decide to keep the current system, where the council is run by a leader chosen by fellow councillors.

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Speaking at a Westminster hearing which effectively kicks off the referendum campaign, Mr Betts said he had not had a single letter from constituents on the subject. He added: “We’re going to end up spending £168,000. It’s very difficult to imagine at a time of really difficult budget decisions for local councillors they couldn’t find a better way of spending that money.”

Sheffield is one of 11 cities where Ministers have decided to hold a referendum in May, including Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield. If there is a “yes” vote, the first mayor will be elected in November.

But Mr Betts said councillors in the city were unanimously opposed to the idea of a mayor, and said the Government should allow individual cities to decide whether to hold a referendum.

Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell said the Government would meet referendum costs and insisted elected mayors could offer strong and accountable leadership.