News / Politics
MPs to vote on right to scrap Bristol mayor
People in Bristol could gain the right to scrap the post of elected mayor as MPs are set to consider a change in the law.
In an amendment to the Devolution Bill, tabled by former leader of Bristol City Council Barbara Janke, restrictions on holding another referendum on the local system of governance could be lifted.
Bristol was the only city to vote for a mayor model in a string of 2012 referendums held under the Localism Act. But by voting yes, it also gave up its right to make future changes.
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“This is not a question of whether the mayor should be there or not: it is a question of the rights of local people,” said Baroness Janke, now a Lib Dem peer, who successfully introduced the amendment in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
MPs will now vote on the change in the House of Commons before Bristol citizens are given the right to make a change.
Councillors in Bristol have already supported the change, voting through a motion asking for citizens’ rights to be “restored” in the council chamber.
They are now expected to lobby local MPs to support the amendment when it comes through the House of Commons.
Baroness Janke said Bristol was “deceived” by the previous government which reneged on promises of new powers to cities which chose to have an elected mayor.
“They were made many promises, which turned out not to be delivered by the then Government, because only one city opted for the elected mayor, “she said.
“I hope this amendment will correct the situation and making the situation in Bristol as it is in all other English cities.”
Every other city and town in England already has the power to change its system of local government governance.
Referendums on a mayoral system must be at least five years apart, so the earliest a referendum could be held would be 2017.
So far, Hartlepool and Stoke on Trent have both held referendums to scrap their elected mayors. Doncaster also held a referendum, but decided to continue with the mayoral system.
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