john_lcfc Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 In the spirit of democracy, the Leicester Mercury has launched an on-line poll to find out who the public would choose if they could vote for an elected mayor. For our mock election, we have come up with a list of 12 people from the world of politics, sport, fashion and entertainment who have indelible links with the city. During the next week, you can visit our website to vote for city icons such as Martin Johnson, Gary Lineker and Engelbert Humperdinck, as well as the politicians in Leicester. Yesterday, it was revealed that if the Conservatives won the next General Election, they would offer the residents of major cities such as Leicester the chance to vote for the person they wanted to make political decisions on their behalf. Candidates can be from any background as long as they have links to the city in question – a case proved when the people of Hartlepool elected their football team's monkey mascot, H'Angus, in 2002. Stuart Drummond, was formerly a waiter on a cruise ship and worked in a mobile phone call centre before taking office. Today, he spoke to the Mercury about what his life is like. Mr Drummond – who at first stood as a joke – was elected with a majority of about 400, six years ago. Four years later that had increased to more than 10,000. "I had no interest in politics at the time and to some extent I still don't," he said. "I don't get involved in the back-biting. All you need is a passion for the town or city you are desperate to change for the better. At the end of the day, it is a more accountable and transparent system. People vote you in and if they don't like what you are doing they will vote you out. "At the moment, cities such as Leicester will be run by people who are chosen by a political party, not by the public." He said having an elected mayor had "boosted attendance at meetings and elections" in Hartlepool. He said: "The public see you much more as one of them rather than a distant politician. It is good for democracy." Mr Drummond works up to 70 hours a week in his role, earns £60,000 a year and is one of 13 directly elected mayors in the country. His powers are wide, as the whole council will agree the budget, and then he will make all key decisions based on this pot of money. Mr Drummond also chooses a cabinet with responsibilities for areas such as finance, transport, and regeneration, who can be from any political party. Shadow communities and local government secretary Caroline Spellman said Leicester would be one of 12 cities given a public vote on the issue within a year of the General Election, if the Tories won. The Tories' proposals would also allow town halls to give less of their council tax revenue to central government and see voters given the power to veto above-inflation council tax increases. This is not currently possible in towns where elected mayors are already in place. In Tuesday's paper we attributed comments welcoming the idea of elected mayors to city council leader Ross Willmott, This was in fact the view of Keith Vaz MP. We apologise for the error. http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/vote...il/article.html Filbert is winning this Leicester Mercury poll by a distance at the moment. get voting!!! I'd love Filbert to be mayor like that Hartlepool bloke
Fosse Boy Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 Bugger the Tories I'm sure some of their MPs would rather enjoy that.
Foxes_Trust Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 Why doesn't the Mercury stop running meaningless polls & try some real journalism on topics like when is a price freeze not a price freeze........
Sods Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 Why doesn't the Mercury stop running meaningless polls & try some real journalism on topics like when is a price freeze not a price freeze........ We don't want Chelsea Dagger, Foxes Trust. Do something. Now.
Fosse Boy Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 We don't want Chelsea Dagger, Foxes Trust. Do something. Now. :appl:
Ultra Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 So we're agreed. Voting by internet to determine a slogan (or lack thereof) on a football club's shirt = bad. Voting by internet to determine who controls a £500m budget and becomes landlord to 50000 people = good.
Guest nathan. Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 Why doesn't the Mercury stop running meaningless polls & try some real journalism on topics like when is a price freeze not a price freeze........ Calm down dear
hairy Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 5% of people voted for Vaz. WTF! I wouldn't leave him incharge of my Green Shield Stamps let alone £500m!
Thracian Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 5% of people voted for Vaz. WTF!I wouldn't leave him incharge of my Green Shield Stamps let alone £500m! It is frightening who people will vote for given the chance. Democracy can be more dangerous to a nation than plague.
JakeShingler Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 5% of people voted for Vaz. WTF!I wouldn't leave him incharge of my Green Shield Stamps let alone £500m! Agreed ****. Voted Filbo
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