NEW MAYOR CANDIDATE AS BORE BLASTS “HYPOCRITE” HEMMING

26-04-2007

Birmingham Labour leader Sir Albert Bore has blasted the “hypocrisy” of Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming for his willingness to stand as the city’s mayor. Meanwhile The Stirrer understands that another local MP Khalid Mahmood will stake his claim to the position in today’s Birmingham Mail.

Hemming first showed his hand on the messageboard of this website over the weekend, when he re-stated his opposition to the creation of the post, and also declared that he regarded improving public family law as his priority.

But then he added, significantly, that if the mayoral position existed “I would be interested in serving the citizens of Birmingham in that way.”

This has been taken as signal of his intention to stand should the opportunity arise, prompting Bore to say that “it is complete hypocrisy given that he has always argued against the idea of a mayor.”

Meanwhile, another opponent of the Mayoral role, Khalid Mahmood, will use the Mail as his platform to declare his willingness to stand.

To get the full whys and wherefores you’ll have to buy the paper later, but we reckon his timing is curious to say the least.

Only two months ago, Mahmood spoke vehemently against Mayoral control at a public debate in the Council House organised by the paper.

Now that he’s shown his hand, it means that the only politicians who’ve actually said they’ll stand are those who claim they don’t want a Mayor in the first place.

Meanwhile, Sir Albert, who does want a Mayor, won’t say if he’s up for it - such is the current topsy turvy world of local politics.

He told us: “I will be actively campaigning for a directly elected mayor, but until we know there’s going to be one, it’s not an issue whether I’d stand or not.”

He also wouldn’t be drawn on the issue of whether he regards Khalid as just as much of a “hypocrite” as John Hemming.

Do you agree with Sir Albert? Would he be a better Labour contender than Khalid Mahmood? Leave a comment on our messageboard.