26 October 2001
Following last week's 'super Thursday' vote in six councils, which brought a yes vote in four authorities, Hartlepool, Lewisham, North Tyneside and Middlesbrough, the government appears determined to get more town halls to take the mayoral route.
Among those councils on the ministers' hit list is the perennial target of Birmingham. Other councils likely to catch the eye of the government include the London boroughs of Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.
Newham this week acceded to the government's request to hold a referendum. Council leader Sir Robin Wales said: 'We have listened to public concerns about too much power being concentrated in one person's hands, and following a meeting with local government minister Nick Raynsford we have gained a concession to allow greater scrutiny and restraint on mayoral power.'
A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions said: 'Virtually all the proposals are now in and we are considering them. But the principle still holds.'
On November 5 in Birmingham, Labour's Albert Bore, a long-time supporter of directly elected mayors, comes up for re-election as party leader. He is expected to face a serious challenge, largely born from the acrimony in the city caused by the debate over the need for a mayor. The ruling Labour group is largely against mayors and one anti-mayor candidate, David Williams, is expected to provide a serious challenge to Bore's leadership.
Despite last week's successes, two councils said no to mayors, with Brighton & Hove providing the biggest snub, with 60% voting against.
In Sedgefield, the prime minister's constituency, a slender majority – 53% – also voted against mayors.
Turnout in all six elections was relatively healthy in local government terms. North Tyneside managed to get most voters into the polls with a 36% turnout. Most others managed around 30%, the notable exception being Lewisham, where just 18% bothered to vote.
The biggest approval rating was in Middlesbrough, where 84% backed a mayor.
'The big lesson to draw from this is that people do want a chance to vote on the issue,' said John Williams, of the New Local Government Network. 'There is a certain momentum being built up, with four out of six votes having been secured.'
Further referendums will take place in Redditch on November 8 and Durham on November 20.
PFoct2001
