For some reason the Birmingham Mail has been lobbying hard for a referendum to test public support for an elected mayor in Birmingham. It’s latest trick was a poll of Birmingham Councillors which resulted in 59% of those polled supporting a referendum. On the back of this poll the newspaper claims that it is “Time to let the people decide”. However, reading through the article you find that the poll was conducted on a narrow basis and is therefore weak. In fact less than half of councillors took part, 54 out of 120, and only 32 out of the 54 supported a referendum. Bare in mind that the vast majority of the 32 councillors supporting a referendum are Labour councillors who’s leader, Albert Bore, supports a referendum. So, when this is considered the Mail’s poll isn’t too convincing really, although this hasn’t stopped Bore jumping on his bandwagon. He responded saying that “the public should decide”. I do wonder whether Bore harbours any mayoral ambitions???
25/02/2007 at 14:48 |
Maybe the Mail is very close to Albert.
25/02/2007 at 19:49 |
Haha – or maybe not.
26/02/2007 at 16:43 |
Nevertheless this is being driven onto the agenda by Labour with a particular candidate in mind. I have a fairly positive opinion of Albert, but that isn’t a reason to have a mayor. What are the positive reasons the pro-Mayor lobby are providing. As Livingstone costs London families on average £300 per annum, I doubt I could be persuaded.