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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MP to quit and go for mayor job | MP to quit and go for mayor job |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Birmingham Erdington MP Sion Simon is to step down from Parliament and as a minister to campaign to become the city's first elected mayor. | Birmingham Erdington MP Sion Simon is to step down from Parliament and as a minister to campaign to become the city's first elected mayor. |
| He will give up his seat at the next election to lobby for the city to adopt the elected mayor system. | He will give up his seat at the next election to lobby for the city to adopt the elected mayor system. |
| Mr Simon, 41, told the BBC: "The answer to Birmingham's problems simply don't lie in London. | Mr Simon, 41, told the BBC: "The answer to Birmingham's problems simply don't lie in London. |
| "I'm certainly committed to putting myself forward and becoming the Labour candidate." | "I'm certainly committed to putting myself forward and becoming the Labour candidate." |
| Mr Simon, who has been an MP for nine years and is a junior culture minister, said he was initially sceptical about the need for mayors, until he saw the difference it made to London. | Mr Simon, who has been an MP for nine years and is a junior culture minister, said he was initially sceptical about the need for mayors, until he saw the difference it made to London. |
| He is to quit the safe Labour seat, which at the last election returned a lead of 9,575, sealing 53% of the vote. | He is to quit the safe Labour seat, which at the last election returned a lead of 9,575, sealing 53% of the vote. |
| He is expected to run for the city council and use the platform to campaign for the mayoralty. | He is expected to run for the city council and use the platform to campaign for the mayoralty. |
| He said: "The current electoral system is aimed at running the country, and not specifically aimed at what's best for Birmingham. | He said: "The current electoral system is aimed at running the country, and not specifically aimed at what's best for Birmingham. |
| Having seen the dash cut by first Ken, then Boris, as Mayor of London, I suspect a number of MPs on all sides will be sorely tempted by the lure of municipal power Mark D'Arcy, Democracy Live blog Read Mark's thoughts in full | Having seen the dash cut by first Ken, then Boris, as Mayor of London, I suspect a number of MPs on all sides will be sorely tempted by the lure of municipal power Mark D'Arcy, Democracy Live blog Read Mark's thoughts in full |
| "What we have is out of date 19th Century municipal structures." | "What we have is out of date 19th Century municipal structures." |
| Under local government legislation, a council may choose to hold a referendum of its citizens, asking them if they want an elected mayor. | Under local government legislation, a council may choose to hold a referendum of its citizens, asking them if they want an elected mayor. |
| A 2001 poll asking if the people of Birmingham wanted "super mayors" did not show majority support for either of the two choices giving that option. | |
| But a 2006 report by the Centre for Cities think tank suggested a Greater Birmingham Authority under a tax-raising mayor could deliver ambitious infrastructure projects. | But a 2006 report by the Centre for Cities think tank suggested a Greater Birmingham Authority under a tax-raising mayor could deliver ambitious infrastructure projects. |
| In December, Mr Simon was forced to apologise after it emerged he rented a second home from his sister, in contravention of Commons rules. | In December, Mr Simon was forced to apologise after it emerged he rented a second home from his sister, in contravention of Commons rules. |
| He promised to repay a sum, thought to run to about £20,000, saying it had been an oversight. | He promised to repay a sum, thought to run to about £20,000, saying it had been an oversight. |
| And his spoof webcast mocking David Cameron's video blog was derided by Conservative rivals and members of his own party. | And his spoof webcast mocking David Cameron's video blog was derided by Conservative rivals and members of his own party. |