Mayor could bring international recognition for city – minister

THE Government has insisted next week's Mayor vote can be a "historic change" and bring Bristol to the world's attention.

Communities Minister Greg Clark made the bold claim in a Parliamentary debate yesterday, when some MPs spoke of "voter apathy" and raised fears of a "derisory" turnout.

Others used the platform to bang the drum for a Yes vote, and Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie said the lack of interest underlined the need for a mayor.

Bristol is one of ten cities across the UK that will decide a week today whether to adopt an elected mayor to replace the current council cabinet model.

Yesterday the debate came to Westminster, where Mr Clark outlined the reasons he thought cities needed a mayor.

He said: "Our great cities should not simply compete with each other...they should compete with cities around the world. They are international cities that deserve an international champion."

The Tory said delegates at international conferences were unaware of council leaders, when foreign cities sent mayors as their figureheads.

He said: "They don't know that Bristol is one of the most successful cities in the country in terms of attracting investment into digital media. They need to know, not just what's going on there, but they need to know who the leaders are."

The minister said he hoped "we will look back at a historic change that will be good for the cities and good for the whole of the United Kingdom".

The Government believes Bristol, along with Birmingham, represents its best chance of the yes vote it needs.

On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron came to Bristol to urge people to support the switch, claiming it would allow the city to move beyond "party squabbling".

Manchester Liberal Democrat MP John Leech said "apathy has been the biggest winner so far" in the debate.

But Ms Leslie said that lack of interest proved the 'yes' campaign's point that mayors were needed.

She said: "In Bristol, we are struggling with voter apathy, because people do not feel that the political system has served them well. It's this disengagement itself that makes the case for a mayor."

Ms Leslie also said that regular changes of power at the top of the council made things more difficult.

Former Labour Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said people were currently simply unaware of who was in charge of local authorities.

Mr Ainsworth, who is hoping to become Coventry's elected mayor, said: "If someone like me, who is steeped in politics, doesn't know who the leader of Bristol City Council is, it's an indication that local government isn't punching its weight."

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