Labour stands by mayors as the independents sweep in

24 Oct 02
The government 'remains committed' to having elected US-style mayors running town halls, even though Labour was beaten in three of last week's four contests. The party lost control of traditional strongholds to independent candidates in elections cha.

25 October 2002

The government 'remains committed' to having elected US-style mayors running town halls, even though Labour was beaten in three of last week's four contests.

The party lost control of traditional strongholds to independent candidates in elections characterised by dismal voter turnouts. Labour's only victory was in the London Borough of Hackney, where council leader Jules Pipe won 47% of the vote on a 26% turnout, the highest of the four elections.

But the prime minister's official spokesman, speaking after the results were declared, said Tony Blair still believed elected mayors were important in devolving power and reinvigorating local democracy.

'There's no point having mayoral elections then expressing disappointment if candidate X or candidate Y wins. It is a democracy,' he said.

But local government minister Nick Raynsford later admitted the British National Party's strong showing in Stoke-on-Trent was 'a cause for concern'. The mayoralty was won by Citizens' Advice Bureau manager Mike Wolfe, who gained 29%, beating Labour MP George Stevenson, who netted 28%. The BNP's Steven Batkin finished third ahead of the Conservatives, on 19%. Turnout was 24%.

In Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, newsagent Tony Egginton overtook first-round leader Lorna Carter, the Labour council's deputy leader, to win with 45% of the vote. Carter, who got 34% in the opening round against Egginton's 30%, finished on 40%. The turnout was a dismal 18%.

In Bedford, the independent candidate was also victorious in what should have been a run-off between Labour and the Tories.

Instead, local newspaper owner Frank Branston won 45% of the vote, more than the combined total for the Labour and Tory candidates. Liberal Democrat Christine McHugh was the surprise runner-up, with 25%, on a turnout of 25%.

This latest batch of results means that six of the 12 mayors elected so far are independents, including 'robocop' Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough, and H'Angus the monkey, aka Stuart Drummond, in Hartlepool. In addition, 18 areas have voted no to having a mayor.

Anna Randle, who manages the New Local Government Network's mayoral forum, said the results showed voters were responding to local issues. 'Party loyalties are being seen as secondary to, or even a distraction from, an individual candidate's ability to articulate a vision for their area,' she added.

PFoct2002

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