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| Birmingham and Coventry voters prepare for referendums | Birmingham and Coventry voters prepare for referendums |
| (1 day later) | |
| Article written by Patrick Burns Political editor, Midlands | Article written by Patrick Burns Political editor, Midlands |
| Q: What do Tuesday, 6 March and Thursday, 15 November have in common? | Q: What do Tuesday, 6 March and Thursday, 15 November have in common? |
| A: They're both "super" days, whatever your opinion of what actually happens during the course of them! | A: They're both "super" days, whatever your opinion of what actually happens during the course of them! |
| The first, in less than three weeks' time, is "Super Tuesday" in the US Presidential election. | The first, in less than three weeks' time, is "Super Tuesday" in the US Presidential election. |
| While on this side of the pond, the second date will see elections not just for 44 local police commissioners but also, potentially, for a new breed of executive mayors. | While on this side of the pond, the second date will see elections not just for 44 local police commissioners but also, potentially, for a new breed of executive mayors. |
| Such a transformation in the running of our major cities is subject to the outcome of referendums on Thursday, 3 May. | Such a transformation in the running of our major cities is subject to the outcome of referendums on Thursday, 3 May. |
| Power struggle | Power struggle |
| Here in the Midlands, voters in our two biggest cities, Birmingham and Coventry, will be invited to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the idea of a directly elected mayor. | Here in the Midlands, voters in our two biggest cities, Birmingham and Coventry, will be invited to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the idea of a directly elected mayor. |
| In Stoke, they already have: with a decisive "yes". And "no"! | In Stoke, they already have: with a decisive "yes". And "no"! |
| In 2002, the Independent Mike Wolfe secured a narrow victory over the former Labour MP George Stevenson to become the first city's first directly-elected mayor. | In 2002, the Independent Mike Wolfe secured a narrow victory over the former Labour MP George Stevenson to become the first city's first directly-elected mayor. |
| But six years later, his Labour successor Mark Meredith had his job unceremoniously abolished after a referendum prompted by a storm of protests led by campaigners urging Stoke to "Get Rid of the Elected Mayor". | But six years later, his Labour successor Mark Meredith had his job unceremoniously abolished after a referendum prompted by a storm of protests led by campaigners urging Stoke to "Get Rid of the Elected Mayor". |
| Stoke had devised its own peculiar version of the mayoral role, working alongside a council manager and therefore open to the charge that too much power was concentrated in too few hands. | Stoke had devised its own peculiar version of the mayoral role, working alongside a council manager and therefore open to the charge that too much power was concentrated in too few hands. |
| Birmingham and Coventry are being invited to consider the more tried and tested mayor-plus-cabinet system. | Birmingham and Coventry are being invited to consider the more tried and tested mayor-plus-cabinet system. |
| Crucial questions | Crucial questions |
| But a 'yes' vote in either city or both would trigger yet more questions. | But a 'yes' vote in either city or both would trigger yet more questions. |
| 1. What powers should be the new mayor have? | 1. What powers should be the new mayor have? |
| Ministers envisage economic regeneration being top of the list with transport and housing also prime policy priorities. | Ministers envisage economic regeneration being top of the list with transport and housing also prime policy priorities. |
| But it would be up to the candidates to sell their rival 'wish lists' to the electorate. | But it would be up to the candidates to sell their rival 'wish lists' to the electorate. |
| 2. Councillors... who needs them? | 2. Councillors... who needs them? |
| What exactly would be left for them to do, if a new 'city boss' were to hold sway in key policy areas, hitherto their own exclusive preserves? | What exactly would be left for them to do, if a new 'city boss' were to hold sway in key policy areas, hitherto their own exclusive preserves? |
| Scrutinising the mayor and standing up for their own areas would probably become their principal responsibilities. | Scrutinising the mayor and standing up for their own areas would probably become their principal responsibilities. |
| 3. Localism? | 3. Localism? |
| Elected mayors are an important part of the government's big idea to encourage "bottom up" solutions in place of "top down" ones. | Elected mayors are an important part of the government's big idea to encourage "bottom up" solutions in place of "top down" ones. |
| But how could the mayor keep genuinely close to local communities while at the same time being expected to champion the city to the wider world? | But how could the mayor keep genuinely close to local communities while at the same time being expected to champion the city to the wider world? |
| A "no" vote in May would render all the talk about possible contenders irrelevant. | A "no" vote in May would render all the talk about possible contenders irrelevant. |
| Runners and riders | Runners and riders |
| At the time of writing these are among the likeliest contenders. | At the time of writing these are among the likeliest contenders. |
| Birmingham's candidates | Birmingham's candidates |
| The timing in terms of the electoral cycle focuses most attention on the question of who will secure the Labour nomination. | The timing in terms of the electoral cycle focuses most attention on the question of who will secure the Labour nomination. |
| So it is no surprise that three prominent figures have declared they would let their names go forward. | So it is no surprise that three prominent figures have declared they would let their names go forward. |
| Sion Simon (Labour) | Sion Simon (Labour) |
| A 'Brownite' junior minister in the last government, he stood down as MP for Birmingham Erdington at the last election specifically to concentrate on preparing his campaign for the job. | A 'Brownite' junior minister in the last government, he stood down as MP for Birmingham Erdington at the last election specifically to concentrate on preparing his campaign for the job. |
| He has spent the two years since then building up support among the local party members who will decide the nomination. | He has spent the two years since then building up support among the local party members who will decide the nomination. |
| Gisela Stuart MP (Labour) | Gisela Stuart MP (Labour) |
| Another former minister, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston has a high local and national profile. | Another former minister, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston has a high local and national profile. |
| She retained her marginal seat at the last election partly because of the strength of her local party machine. | She retained her marginal seat at the last election partly because of the strength of her local party machine. |
| Hers was the "weather vane" declaration in 1997 pointing the way to New Labour's landslide. | Hers was the "weather vane" declaration in 1997 pointing the way to New Labour's landslide. |
| Councillor Sir Albert Bore (Labour) | Councillor Sir Albert Bore (Labour) |
| The leader of the largest single party on Birmingham City Council is confident the May elections will see Labour overturn the eight-year-old Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. | The leader of the largest single party on Birmingham City Council is confident the May elections will see Labour overturn the eight-year-old Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. |
| This would restore him to head the council which he last led in 2004. | This would restore him to head the council which he last led in 2004. |
| Mike Whitby (Conservative) | Mike Whitby (Conservative) |
| The Conservative leader of the Con/Lib Dem 'Progressive Partnership' which has ruled Birmingham for the last eight years has been an inveterate opponent of the idea of elected mayors. | The Conservative leader of the Con/Lib Dem 'Progressive Partnership' which has ruled Birmingham for the last eight years has been an inveterate opponent of the idea of elected mayors. |
| But there is mounting speculation that in the event of a contest, he would put himself forward for the party nomination. | But there is mounting speculation that in the event of a contest, he would put himself forward for the party nomination. |
| John Hemming MP (Liberal Democrat) | John Hemming MP (Liberal Democrat) |
| The Birmingham Yardley MP is a former leader of the Liberal Democrat group and one of the architects of the coalition. | The Birmingham Yardley MP is a former leader of the Liberal Democrat group and one of the architects of the coalition. |
| He too has been an outspoken critic of elected mayors, but again there is speculation that in the event he would be prepared to let his name go forward. | He too has been an outspoken critic of elected mayors, but again there is speculation that in the event he would be prepared to let his name go forward. |
| Councillor Paul Tilsley (Liberal Democrat) | Councillor Paul Tilsley (Liberal Democrat) |
| Widely seen as a unifying public figure after the summer riots. | Widely seen as a unifying public figure after the summer riots. |
| The leader of the junior partners in the ruling coalition may consider standing if John Hemming decides against it. | The leader of the junior partners in the ruling coalition may consider standing if John Hemming decides against it. |
| Salma Yaqoob (Respect) | |
| The party leader and former Birmingham City councillor finished a strong second in the Hall Green constituency at the last general election, achieving a 12% swing from Labour. | |
| She has a national profile, having appeared regularly on TV programmes including BBC One's Question Time. | |
| She is also a spokesperson for the Birmingham Central Mosque. | |
| Bob Warman (Independent) | Bob Warman (Independent) |
| The veteran Central ITV presenter is reportedly considering his options. | The veteran Central ITV presenter is reportedly considering his options. |
| Besides his on-air role he also has a successful business career. | Besides his on-air role he also has a successful business career. |
| It is understood that he is being encouraged to stand by members of the business community who favour the idea of a non party-political mayor. | It is understood that he is being encouraged to stand by members of the business community who favour the idea of a non party-political mayor. |
| Clare Short (Independent Labour) | Clare Short (Independent Labour) |
| Having resigned, first, from the Cabinet and then from the Labour Party the former MP for Birmingham Ladywood stood down from Parliament at the last election. | Having resigned, first, from the Cabinet and then from the Labour Party the former MP for Birmingham Ladywood stood down from Parliament at the last election. |
| But she has since indicated that there may be circumstances in which she might let her name go forward. | But she has since indicated that there may be circumstances in which she might let her name go forward. |
| Coventry's contenders | Coventry's contenders |
| The Labour controlled council recently voted overwhelmingly against an elected mayor. | The Labour controlled council recently voted overwhelmingly against an elected mayor. |
| But that will not remove it from the government's list of cities where referendums will be held on Thursday, 3 May. | But that will not remove it from the government's list of cities where referendums will be held on Thursday, 3 May. |
| So far, however, the former Cabinet minister Bob Ainsworth, the Labour MP for Coventry North East, is the only high profile politician who has expressed an interest in contesting the nomination. | So far, however, the former Cabinet minister Bob Ainsworth, the Labour MP for Coventry North East, is the only high profile politician who has expressed an interest in contesting the nomination. |
| Your views | Your views |
| Do you think our major cities need what supporters say would be "a heavy-hitter at the top of whom even ministers were afraid"? | Do you think our major cities need what supporters say would be "a heavy-hitter at the top of whom even ministers were afraid"? |
| Or is it, as critics maintain, "a recipe for a power freak, concentrating too much power into too few hands"? | Or is it, as critics maintain, "a recipe for a power freak, concentrating too much power into too few hands"? |
| I would love to know your views - click on comments (below). | I would love to know your views - click on comments (below). |
| And I hope you will join me for more on this on the Sunday Politics at 12.00 on BBC One on Sunday, 19 February 2012. | And I hope you will join me for more on this on the Sunday Politics at 12.00 on BBC One on Sunday, 19 February 2012. |
| Follow me on Twitter PatrickBurnsBBC | Follow me on Twitter PatrickBurnsBBC |
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