LABOUR STEPS UP MAYOR PRESSURE

30-03-2007

Birmingham's Labour party is putting the issue of a mayoral referendum to next week's city council meeting - stepping up the pressure on Tory leader Mike Whitby who is vehemently opposed to the plan.

As we reported on this site yesterday (see the story here) Whitby is clearly rattled by the Birmingham Mail's campaign for a popular vote on the subject and has taken to haranguing the paper's journalists.

Now Labour is turning the screw by bringing the debate into the council chamber.

One senior Labour source told us yesterday that, like many in his party, he was opposed to directly elected mayor on principle but recognised that there was growing public feeling on the issue.

He also acknowledged that it was a good way to embarrass the Tories.

Labour leader Sir Albert Bore said: “One of the problems is that after 35,000 signatures have been collected, the referendum has to be held within six months.

“That means it will be after the 2007 council elections and before the 2008 elections.

“To save the cost of a stand alone ballot, if the council backs it, our idea is that it would be held alongside the ballot in 2008 so that cost isn't as much of an issue.”

Labour's strategy is a canny one, as it could yet expose fault lines in the so-called “progressive partnership” which runs the city.

Most Tories can be expected to rally behind Whitby but their coalition partners in the Liberal Democrats are not nearly so predictable with some councillor's having already stated their support for the Mail's campaign.