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| Sceptics expected to win the day in cities' mayoral referendums | Sceptics expected to win the day in cities' mayoral referendums |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Not for the first time in its thousand-year history, Coventry's Broadgate shopping centre has been getting a makeover in readiness for this summer's Olympic football matches at the city's fine Ricoh Arena. But the upgrade cannot disguise retail casualties of the recession here as everywhere else. Voters will be asked in a referendum on Thursdaywhether a directly elected mayor would give it a significant economic boost. | Not for the first time in its thousand-year history, Coventry's Broadgate shopping centre has been getting a makeover in readiness for this summer's Olympic football matches at the city's fine Ricoh Arena. But the upgrade cannot disguise retail casualties of the recession here as everywhere else. Voters will be asked in a referendum on Thursdaywhether a directly elected mayor would give it a significant economic boost. |
| Statistically speaking, Coventry is a middling sort of place, England's ninth largest city and furthest from the sea, its population 300,000, much smaller than Birmingham 20 miles to the west. | Statistically speaking, Coventry is a middling sort of place, England's ninth largest city and furthest from the sea, its population 300,000, much smaller than Birmingham 20 miles to the west. |
| At 9%, Coventry's official unemployment rate is middling too, though flattered by part-time working and premature retirement; its private-sector investment rate (3%) is also middling. It has its share of problems (752 people applied for a vacant three-bed council home) but is better off than many places. Knowledge-based industries, including DVD-gaming, have replaced some of its skilled engineering jobs, which attracted the Luftwaffe's 1940 blitz. Jaguar's research is still based here. A nice friendly place, say students from distant London. | At 9%, Coventry's official unemployment rate is middling too, though flattered by part-time working and premature retirement; its private-sector investment rate (3%) is also middling. It has its share of problems (752 people applied for a vacant three-bed council home) but is better off than many places. Knowledge-based industries, including DVD-gaming, have replaced some of its skilled engineering jobs, which attracted the Luftwaffe's 1940 blitz. Jaguar's research is still based here. A nice friendly place, say students from distant London. |
| Middling prosperity may be the crucial explanation why few expect Coventry to say yes to the government's invitation to replace the Labour-controlled council (it expects to gain more seats from the Tories in Thursday's local elections) with a mayor-led system. It is one of 10 special referendums in English cities, most of which are predicted to reject the personalised Boris-v-Ken option. | Middling prosperity may be the crucial explanation why few expect Coventry to say yes to the government's invitation to replace the Labour-controlled council (it expects to gain more seats from the Tories in Thursday's local elections) with a mayor-led system. It is one of 10 special referendums in English cities, most of which are predicted to reject the personalised Boris-v-Ken option. |
| So the Guardian's straw poll produces familiar results. Three pensioners, grumbling over their morning coffee about weekend rowdies and pavement cyclists, split three ways: yes, no, and maybe, just like Coventry's three Labour MPs. "It's worth a try. I don't know the council leaders' names," says a school dinner lady in Broadgate. "I don't even know there is an election," replies a teenager. | So the Guardian's straw poll produces familiar results. Three pensioners, grumbling over their morning coffee about weekend rowdies and pavement cyclists, split three ways: yes, no, and maybe, just like Coventry's three Labour MPs. "It's worth a try. I don't know the council leaders' names," says a school dinner lady in Broadgate. "I don't even know there is an election," replies a teenager. |
| As they decide, Londoners vote on Thursday for the fourth time since the capital got an elected mayor in 2000. "What London has achieved, others can too," say pro-mayor boosters such as Michael Heseltine or Labour's Lord Adonis. "London is different," answer their critics. "Elected mayors have usually been a disappointment in other places" – a gimmick at a time when the real issue is cuts imposed by the same people in Whitehall. | As they decide, Londoners vote on Thursday for the fourth time since the capital got an elected mayor in 2000. "What London has achieved, others can too," say pro-mayor boosters such as Michael Heseltine or Labour's Lord Adonis. "London is different," answer their critics. "Elected mayors have usually been a disappointment in other places" – a gimmick at a time when the real issue is cuts imposed by the same people in Whitehall. |
| One reason for scepticism may be that – here as elsewhere – all parties on the council voted overwhelmingly against the change. Ten years ago, Coventry was something of a municipal basket case, but has been much improved by Tory and Labour administrations. Who says so? People like Joe Elliott, former chairman of Coventry FC – the Sky Blues – a widely respected local businessman who is exactly the kind of independent, can-do type whom ministers would love to run for mayor. | One reason for scepticism may be that – here as elsewhere – all parties on the council voted overwhelmingly against the change. Ten years ago, Coventry was something of a municipal basket case, but has been much improved by Tory and Labour administrations. Who says so? People like Joe Elliott, former chairman of Coventry FC – the Sky Blues – a widely respected local businessman who is exactly the kind of independent, can-do type whom ministers would love to run for mayor. |
| Elliott was asked to stand. Instead he is chairman of the local No campaign. The Sky Blues may be flagging (relegation again next season), but cooperation between the council and business has pulled off some coups without a charismatic ("undemocratic", say critics) leader. They include its Olympic bid, getting Severn Trent Water, a FTSE 100 company, to locate its HQ and 2,000 jobs here and the Warwick Science Park that helps sustain its two universities. | Elliott was asked to stand. Instead he is chairman of the local No campaign. The Sky Blues may be flagging (relegation again next season), but cooperation between the council and business has pulled off some coups without a charismatic ("undemocratic", say critics) leader. They include its Olympic bid, getting Severn Trent Water, a FTSE 100 company, to locate its HQ and 2,000 jobs here and the Warwick Science Park that helps sustain its two universities. |
| It is a familiar story elsewhere. The Birmingham Post is encouraging its local mayoral debate and the Newcastle Journal went "yes" editorially on Wednesday. But Les Reid, the Coventry Telegraph's energetic political reporter, is a vocal sceptic, unconvinced that Whitehall's offer of largely unspecified extra powers to "yes" cities is much more than a rebranding exercise: not worth the trouble or risk of incompetent autocracy. | It is a familiar story elsewhere. The Birmingham Post is encouraging its local mayoral debate and the Newcastle Journal went "yes" editorially on Wednesday. But Les Reid, the Coventry Telegraph's energetic political reporter, is a vocal sceptic, unconvinced that Whitehall's offer of largely unspecified extra powers to "yes" cities is much more than a rebranding exercise: not worth the trouble or risk of incompetent autocracy. |
| It has led Reid to clash with Bob Ainsworth, city shop steward turned MP and a former Labour defence secretary, who has signalled an interest in running if Coventry votes yes – though he may struggle to beat the council leader, John Mutton, for the Labour nomination. Council leaders such as Mutton may be sceptics, but will run for mayor if they must. Westminster or town hall retreads are one more reason to vote no, counters the rival camp. | It has led Reid to clash with Bob Ainsworth, city shop steward turned MP and a former Labour defence secretary, who has signalled an interest in running if Coventry votes yes – though he may struggle to beat the council leader, John Mutton, for the Labour nomination. Council leaders such as Mutton may be sceptics, but will run for mayor if they must. Westminster or town hall retreads are one more reason to vote no, counters the rival camp. |
| In a city famous for its protests – Lady Godiva's nude horse ride was over taxes – Coventry's nos include ex-MP, now socialist party councillor, Dave Nellist. Expelled by Labour in 1992 for refusing to renounce the Militant Tendancy, Nellist tried to shame his ex-comrades into fighting the cuts in the way Coventry's moderate Labour council did in the 70s – and Liverpool did against Thatcherism. "We must challenge 'all the same' politics," he says. So Nellist too will probably stand if Coventry votes yes.In well-run Labour Manchester, local business is largely aligned with the town hall in saying no, though Liverpool and Salford, both volunteers for reform, are actually electing their first executive mayors on Thursday. Salford throws up another risk. Ex-con turned businessman, Paul "Mr Big" Massey, is running as an independent, and is expected to do well in poorer wards. | In a city famous for its protests – Lady Godiva's nude horse ride was over taxes – Coventry's nos include ex-MP, now socialist party councillor, Dave Nellist. Expelled by Labour in 1992 for refusing to renounce the Militant Tendancy, Nellist tried to shame his ex-comrades into fighting the cuts in the way Coventry's moderate Labour council did in the 70s – and Liverpool did against Thatcherism. "We must challenge 'all the same' politics," he says. So Nellist too will probably stand if Coventry votes yes.In well-run Labour Manchester, local business is largely aligned with the town hall in saying no, though Liverpool and Salford, both volunteers for reform, are actually electing their first executive mayors on Thursday. Salford throws up another risk. Ex-con turned businessman, Paul "Mr Big" Massey, is running as an independent, and is expected to do well in poorer wards. |
| In Nottingham, the hostile council issued a leaflet warning Asian voters that a racist mayor – British National party or English Defence League (EDL) – could be elected. | |
| Meanwhile, voters in Doncaster (Ed Miliband's own constituency) are being asked today to abandon their mayoral experiment: there is a deadlock between councillors and their elected English Democrats mayor. | |
| In Newcastle, Labour's Lord Beecham and Lib Dem David Faulkner, both ex-city council leaders, are leading the no campaign while a third, Lib Dem peer, John Shipley, is a prominent yes man. In a low-key campaign, their debates have attracted double-figure audiences in contrast to the 200 people who attended a mayoral Question Time at Leeds Metropolitan University this week. Councillors were among the most vocal critics. "One thing lacking seems 'hope'," noted one Leeds blogger. | In Newcastle, Labour's Lord Beecham and Lib Dem David Faulkner, both ex-city council leaders, are leading the no campaign while a third, Lib Dem peer, John Shipley, is a prominent yes man. In a low-key campaign, their debates have attracted double-figure audiences in contrast to the 200 people who attended a mayoral Question Time at Leeds Metropolitan University this week. Councillors were among the most vocal critics. "One thing lacking seems 'hope'," noted one Leeds blogger. |
| The Institute for Government, a Whitehall-based thinktank that has campaigned for elected mayors, is calling today's 10 referendums "a pivotal moment" in Britain's long struggle to decentralise its system of government. And in an interview with the Evening Standard on Wednesday, David Cameron said he was "giving the country the chance to have many more Borises". | The Institute for Government, a Whitehall-based thinktank that has campaigned for elected mayors, is calling today's 10 referendums "a pivotal moment" in Britain's long struggle to decentralise its system of government. And in an interview with the Evening Standard on Wednesday, David Cameron said he was "giving the country the chance to have many more Borises". |
| "I want a Boris in Birmingham, I want a Boris in Leeds, I want a Boris in Bradford. They don't all have to be members of the Johnson family," he added. | "I want a Boris in Birmingham, I want a Boris in Leeds, I want a Boris in Bradford. They don't all have to be members of the Johnson family," he added. |
| But it may be too little too late.The yes campaign seems to have failed to generate enough momentum to overthrow scepticism, apathy and the status quo. | But it may be too little too late.The yes campaign seems to have failed to generate enough momentum to overthrow scepticism, apathy and the status quo. |
| The outcome is in doubt even in Birmingham. Coventry MP and wannabe mayor Bob Ainsworth admits: "It's genuinely impossible to say. Most ordinary people are completely unaware or ambivalent. We've not made any breakthrough, but nor have our opponents." If that is so, then council leader Mutton looks set to remain just that – and happy with it. | The outcome is in doubt even in Birmingham. Coventry MP and wannabe mayor Bob Ainsworth admits: "It's genuinely impossible to say. Most ordinary people are completely unaware or ambivalent. We've not made any breakthrough, but nor have our opponents." If that is so, then council leader Mutton looks set to remain just that – and happy with it. |
| • This article was amended on 3 May 2012. The original stated that the elected mayor of Doncaster was an English Defence League member. The mayor in question is actually a member of the English Democrats party. This has been corrected. |
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