28 June 2002
Local government minister Nick Raynsford told the House of Commons that it is now up to local authorities to decide whether or not to hold a vote after initial public consultation.
'Accordingly, in cases where, in our view and having regard to the outcome of the consultation, the judgement a council has reached does not appear to be justified, our approach will be not to intervene to direct a referendum,' he said.
Without central intervention, it is likely that even fewer towns will go to the polls. So far just seven have opted for the mayoral route – one of the government's flagship ideas for councils – with a further 21 saying no at the polls.
At the same time, Raynsford announced that referendums would not be forced on Birmingham, Bradford or Thurrock.
Councils welcomed the news. Albert Bore, pro-mayor leader of Birmingham, said that it removed 'the uncertainty' surrounding the issue. Thurrock called it a 'victory for democracy', and the leader of Bradford council, Margaret Eaton, told Public Finance that 'mayors would die a death'.
The pro-mayor New Local Government Network, which last week organised a meeting of all current elected mayors, was predictably disappointed.
Its chair, Gerry Stoker, said: 'The NLGN expresses regret that people in Birmingham, Bradford and Thurrock are not going to get an opportunity to vote in a mayoral referendum, despite consultation evidence showing support for a directly elected mayor.'
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