LGP News - Elected Mayor - Leicester’s X-Factor

Elected Mayor - Leicester’s X-Factor
Fri, Nov 19, 2010

Let people decide on elected mayor?

The Leicester Green Party today criticised Labour for trying to introduce an elected mayor without the support of the electorate of Leicester. 
 
Whilst the Green party is against an elected mayor our main concern at the moment is that there is no referendum to give the voters a chance to decide whether they want and elected mayor or not.
 
The Leicester Green Party spokesperson, Geoff Forse, said:
"The Labour Party are trying to railroad through a decision, without a referendum on an elected mayor in a 3 weeks public consultation."  (1)

"While this manoeuvre may be a way to help keep them in power, it is fundamentally undemocratic to change the electoral system. The voter should decide not the Labour Party." (2)
 
Geoff ended: "the Green Party oppose an elected mayor because it gives too much power to one person and it can lead to a personality "X Factor" contest.  After all, in their first mayoral election, the people of Hartlepool elected a monkey. I am sure Labour are planning to give the people a similar choice"

Reference:
  1. Debate on bid to elect a mayor, Leicester Mercury 15 November 2010.
  2. The public can force a referendum on an elected mayor if five per cent of voters sign a petition.

 

Further information, interviews:

 

Geoff Forse, Leicester Green Party Spokesperson: 0795 2252 047  /  0116 251 5775

Or Bob Ball: 0116 221 3224 / 07779 304 081

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