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Government scraps 'Shadow Mayor' plans for big cities | Government scraps 'Shadow Mayor' plans for big cities |
(6 months later) | |
Article written by Richard Moss Political editor, North East & Cumbria | |
The government's decision to scrap plans to have 'shadow mayors' in 11 English cities will be welcomed by the politicians from all parties who have had qualms about the idea. | The government's decision to scrap plans to have 'shadow mayors' in 11 English cities will be welcomed by the politicians from all parties who have had qualms about the idea. |
But where does the decision leave the coalition's vision for our biggest councils? | But where does the decision leave the coalition's vision for our biggest councils? |
The government wanted to install the shadow mayors to give voters in those cities a chance to see how they would work. | The government wanted to install the shadow mayors to give voters in those cities a chance to see how they would work. |
They wouldn't have been new politicians, but just the existing council leader rebranded. | They wouldn't have been new politicians, but just the existing council leader rebranded. |
They would have been in office until May next year, when each city would have had a referendum on whether to have a permanent directly-elected mayor. | They would have been in office until May next year, when each city would have had a referendum on whether to have a permanent directly-elected mayor. |
But the idea wasn't popular with some. | But the idea wasn't popular with some. |
New mayors | New mayors |
In Newcastle, there has been little enthusiasm amongst politicians for the idea of having a full mayor, let alone a shadow. | In Newcastle, there has been little enthusiasm amongst politicians for the idea of having a full mayor, let alone a shadow. |
Some saw it as a costly and confusing move, and largely unnecessary. | Some saw it as a costly and confusing move, and largely unnecessary. |
There were also concerns about the plans to combine the role of the new mayors with the council chief executive. | There were also concerns about the plans to combine the role of the new mayors with the council chief executive. |
Critics suggested that placed far too much power in the hands of one individual. | Critics suggested that placed far too much power in the hands of one individual. |
That plan has also been dropped, although councils can still decide to do without a chief executive if they so desire. | That plan has also been dropped, although councils can still decide to do without a chief executive if they so desire. |
The Conservatives though remain very keen on the idea of elected mayors - seeing it as a way of strengthening local democracy. | The Conservatives though remain very keen on the idea of elected mayors - seeing it as a way of strengthening local democracy. |
They look at the impact of Boris Johnson in London or Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough and see mayors as a force for good. | They look at the impact of Boris Johnson in London or Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough and see mayors as a force for good. |
Traditional council | Traditional council |
They are pressing ahead then with plans to have referendums in those 11 cities in May 2012, to see if voters want a directly-elected mayor. | They are pressing ahead then with plans to have referendums in those 11 cities in May 2012, to see if voters want a directly-elected mayor. |
But the decision not to have "shadow mayors" might damage the chances of a yes vote. | But the decision not to have "shadow mayors" might damage the chances of a yes vote. |
I'm sure the government had hoped the shadows would help people fall in love with the idea of having a mayor rather than a traditional council leader in charge of their city. | I'm sure the government had hoped the shadows would help people fall in love with the idea of having a mayor rather than a traditional council leader in charge of their city. |
That chance has been lost. | That chance has been lost. |
And Labour want to see the plan scrapped altogether. | And Labour want to see the plan scrapped altogether. |
It is already possible for voters to force a referendum on having a mayor, but there seems to have been little enthusiasm for the idea. | It is already possible for voters to force a referendum on having a mayor, but there seems to have been little enthusiasm for the idea. |
Nobody has mounted a successful campaign for a referendum in Newcastle. The last time a vote was held in the North East was in Darlington, where the town overwhelmingly rejected the idea. | Nobody has mounted a successful campaign for a referendum in Newcastle. The last time a vote was held in the North East was in Darlington, where the town overwhelmingly rejected the idea. |
New Labour | New Labour |
If the referendums fail in Newcastle and the other cities then the government will have to go back to the drawing board. | If the referendums fail in Newcastle and the other cities then the government will have to go back to the drawing board. |
It will also just be another chapter in the chequered history of the elected mayor. | It will also just be another chapter in the chequered history of the elected mayor. |
Tony Blair and New Labour loved the idea when they came into office too, and several towns and cities voted to have one. | Tony Blair and New Labour loved the idea when they came into office too, and several towns and cities voted to have one. |
But when in 2002 the party lost out to a Conservative in North Tyneside, the local football mascot in Hartlepool, and ex-policeman Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough, they went cold on the idea. | But when in 2002 the party lost out to a Conservative in North Tyneside, the local football mascot in Hartlepool, and ex-policeman Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough, they went cold on the idea. |
Few new elected mayors have been put in place since. | Few new elected mayors have been put in place since. |
So supporters of the mayoral system will now have to find other ways of convincing voters that it is a system worth adopting. | So supporters of the mayoral system will now have to find other ways of convincing voters that it is a system worth adopting. |
But if they fail to do that by 2012, the idea of it becoming widespread in our town halls might be buried for good. | But if they fail to do that by 2012, the idea of it becoming widespread in our town halls might be buried for good. |
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