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Cities vote against having elected mayors Cities vote against having elected mayors
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron's hopes of most major cities having an elected mayor seem to have been dashed. Voters have given a hefty thumbs-down to David Cameron's drive to get more directly elected mayors in England.
Voters in Manchester, Nottingham, Bradford and Coventry rejected the idea, with the results from six other city referendums still to come. People in Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bradford, Coventry, Sheffield, Wakefield and Newcastle have voted against the idea in local referendums, with only Bristol voters bucking the trend and providing the prime minister with some comfort.
The prime minister has been trying to extend the elected mayoral system introduced by Tony Blair and has said he wants a "Boris in every city", using the London mayor, Boris Johnson, as an example to be followed. He claimed last month it was a "once in a generation" chance to change the way England was run. One other result, in Leeds, has still to be declared.
But the results announced so far from Thursday's vote revealed little enthusiasm for the idea in an embarrassing rebuff for Cameron. Turnout for the Bristol vote was low, at just 24%, according to the BBC's political editor in the south-west, Kirsty Gardner. She reported 41,032 voters in favour (53%) and 35,880 against. In one ward just six people voted, she said.
Cameron has been trying to extend the elected mayoral system introduced by Tony Blair, saying he wanted a "Boris in every city", using the London mayor, Boris Johnson, as an example. He claimed last month it was a once in a generation chance to change the way England was run.
But the results so far from Thursday's vote reveal little enthusiasm for the idea in an embarrassing rebuff for Cameron.
Critics argued elected mayors were unnecessary and would add another expensive layer of bureaucracy, while supporters have complained that the votes took place without any clear indication of the powers such mayors could have.Critics argued elected mayors were unnecessary and would add another expensive layer of bureaucracy, while supporters have complained that the votes took place without any clear indication of the powers such mayors could have.
Stuart Drummond, the directly elected mayor of Hartlepool, blamed coalition government divisions for the failure.Stuart Drummond, the directly elected mayor of Hartlepool, blamed coalition government divisions for the failure.
"I think the government have approached this in a completely haphazard, half-hearted way," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. "I think the government have approached this in a completely haphazard, half-hearted way," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"If they really did think this was the best way forward then surely they would have imposed it on places rather than leave it to chance," said Drummond, who is now in his third term as mayor, having been first elected in 2002 when he campaigned in the H'Angus the Monkey suit which he wore as mascot for the local football club. "If they really did think this was the best way forward then surely they would have imposed it on places rather than leave it to chance," said Drummond, who is now in his third term as mayor, having been first elected in 2002 when he campaigned in the H'Angus the Monkey suit that he wore as mascot for the local football club.
"Because the Lib Dems have always been against the mayoral system, there has never been a true coalition policy for it and it just seems to be one of David Cameron's little hobby horses.""Because the Lib Dems have always been against the mayoral system, there has never been a true coalition policy for it and it just seems to be one of David Cameron's little hobby horses."
Manchester voted against having an elected mayor by a margin of 53.2% to 46.8% and Nottingham by 57.5% to 42.5%. Both cities had a low turnout of 24%.Manchester voted against having an elected mayor by a margin of 53.2% to 46.8% and Nottingham by 57.5% to 42.5%. Both cities had a low turnout of 24%.
In Coventry just 36.4% of voters backed the change and 63.6% opposed it. In Bradford the vote was 44.9% for and 55.1% against. In Coventry just 36.4% of voters backed the change and 63.6% opposed it. In Bradford the vote was 44.9% for and 55.1% against.
Jon Collins, the Labour leader of Nottingham city council, said: "This was a referendum imposed on us by the coalition government which the majority of local people clearly did not agree with. I am pleased with this outcome because an elected mayor would have been expensive and unnecessary.Jon Collins, the Labour leader of Nottingham city council, said: "This was a referendum imposed on us by the coalition government which the majority of local people clearly did not agree with. I am pleased with this outcome because an elected mayor would have been expensive and unnecessary.
"This outcome shows that local people recognise we have a system in Nottingham which is working well for them and the city.""This outcome shows that local people recognise we have a system in Nottingham which is working well for them and the city."
The housing minister, Grant Shapps, defended the referendums, telling Sky News: "People should have the right to decide how they are governed in their local area … The whole point is to give people a say. No one is forcing mayors on anyone." Jaya Chakrabarti, chairman of the Mayor for Bristol campaign, said: "I am bowled over and completely shocked just because we knew it was going to be close. With no local elections [in Bristol] this year no one could really tell who was going to come out and why. We are very proud to have bucked the national trend.
The Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington, Jack Dromey, said the city's voters were likely to have rejected an elected mayor. "The straws in the wind are that it is likely to be a no vote, but we will see." "Our team has done it on virtually no funds and it has been a labour of love for the city."
Results from Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield and Wakefield were due to be announced later on Friday. Chakrabarti added: "We did this because we wanted the strong leaders of the city to step up and be able to lead the city in a stable environment that can take us to the next level."
A referendum has also been held in Doncaster on whether to keep its elected mayor. The present mayor, Peter Davies, is a member of the English Democrats party. The housing minister, Grant Shapps, defended the referendums, telling Sky News: "People should have the right to decide how they are governed in their local area … The whole point is to give people a say. No one is forcing mayors on anyone."
A referendum in Doncaster on whether to keep its elected mayor decided 62% to 38% in favour. The present mayor, Peter Davies, is a member of the English Democrats party.