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A referendum to decide if Liverpool will be run by a directly-elected mayor will be staged next May. A call by government advisers to delay the poll by 12 months has been rejected. And a separate recommendation for a "metro mayor" with responsibility for the whole of Merseyside, to allow greater powers to be devolved, has been ruled out as "too difficult". The way forward was revealed by Greg Clark, the cities minister, who said: "We intend to have the referenda in all cities in May next year. We think we should get on with it." Pushing for a "metro mayor" – covering Liverpool, Knowsley, Sef- ton, Wirral, St Helens and Halton – would require fresh primary legislation to create a new legal authority, the minister said. Mr Clark added: "I know that it has its advocates, but it would need a wholesale reorganisation of local government boundaries. It is better to press ahead to devolve powers to existing authorities." Liverpool's Labour leader Joe Anderson, a vocal opponent of a Liverpool-only mayor, said he still believed that only a Merseyside-wide leader could be given "strategic powers". Only a "metro mayor" could be handed responsibility for transport, for example – because road, rail and bus routes cross council boundaries – or policing. But Cllr Anderson said he could be persuaded to back a "yes vote" if ministers followed through on hints they will hand over key responsibilities requested by the city council. The English Democrats encourage the development of the elected mayor agenda, viewing the model as a possible means of bringing about the modernisation of local government and strengthening local leadership and civic engagement.
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Liverpool to Hold Referendum on Mayor
Written by Administrator
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heartland of course, but we must remember that although they pertain to be socialists many of them retain
a partial nationalist outlook as long as the dreaded subject of race is not involved.How likely is it that we can get enough troops on the ground to mount a serious campaign ?