Birmingham Says No to Elected Mayor

Birmingham city council has ruled out an elected mayor for its people. The Labour government is forcing cities to choose between three methods of leadership and the Conservative-Liberal Democrat ruling coalition is adamant the existing system of leader and cabinet should remain.

Good call!

An elected mayor will take power further away from the people of the city, into the hands of one man or woman. The danger is an election for mayor could boil down to a popularity contest where personality triumphs over policy.

It's a further blow for the Birmingham Mail's tiresome campaign for an elected mayor.

But there could be a final sting in the tail. If David Cameron's Conservatives come to power at the next General Election, then Birmingham could be forced into accepting an elected mayor, no matter what the city council think. I'll be watching this chasm between national Tories and local Tories with great interest.