‘Unwelcome’ journey into unknown

Referenda will be held in Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford and Sheffield and the leaders of each authority are on record as being opposed to the plan. While those in charge of the three West Yorkshire councils have each pledged to seek the Labour nomination should a Yes vote prevail, they are backing a No vote in principle.

In Leeds, council leader Keith Wakefield has described the proposal as “undemocratic and utter madness”, Tory leader Andrew Carter said mayors would be “an unworkable recipe for conflict” while Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrat group leader, warned there was “no appetite for an elected mayor in Leeds”, and that the proposal was “completely against our wishes”.

In Wakefield, council leader Peter Box said the decision to hold a referendum before the full powers of a mayor are outlined as “Alice in Wonderland politics”, while the city already has a high profile No campaign led by business leaders including Wembley Stadium trustee Sir Rodney Walker and regional chair of the Institute of Directors, Margaret Wood.

Coun Box said he believed a business-led No campaign was under way in Wakefield because economic stability would be vital for the region to recover from recession. “At a time of recession and major cuts, it seems strange to many people that large sums of money are being spent on changing a system to the unknown,” he said.

“People have looked at what has happened in the district, can see that we have a strong relationship with the private sector and have increased development and investment.

“They have seen that where needed – such as Trinity Walk shopping centre – we have intervened and taken steps using public money get projects completed. The lesson is that, above all else, business wants stability, we have tried hard to provide that in Wakefield, I think with some success.”

Significant concerns have also been raised by businesses in the Leeds City Region, which potentially could have three mayors within it.

One source said: “It seems at odds with the current policy of structuring Local Enterprise Partnerships around city regions, it would make more sense to us to have a mayor for the city region, rather than three each with conflicting agendas pulling the partnership apart.”

The city with the biggest groundswell of support is Bradford. The Respect Party, riding high on George Galloway’s remarkable by-election success last month, are campaigning hard for a Yes vote as they seek to take a strangle hold on the city.

Council leader Ian Greenwood said he stood by the record of the council. “The elected mayor is a decision for the people of Bradford,” he said. “I happen to think that the council leader model that we currently have is better for a district of this size. However the people of Bradford will vote, and if they do decide to go forward with a mayor, then I will seek the Labour Party nomination for that.”

In Sheffield, council leader Julie Dore is yet to officially put her name forward as a possible candidate should the city vote Yes, however she has the backing of one of the Steel City’s political heavyweights.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, has ruled himself out, giving his backing Coun Dore.

He said: “She would have to be at the top of the list of possible Labour candidates rather than someone being parachuted in for the role. There is no high profile person desperate to win the nomination unlike in other cities.”

A Government spokesman said: “Something very important changes when you have a mayor rather than a leader of the council. The leader of the council is precisely that – they are the principle administrator of the local council. It’s very different and I think it changes the way people approach their task.

“When you have a mayor of the city, actually they rise above the caucuses and the factions – it is expected of them to lead the whole city.”