A new report says that by giving elected mayors both greater powers and an increased mandate, local democracy and governance can be reinvigorated.
If the Left wants to restate its localist agenda, then looking again at elected mayors is a good place to start. After years of letting the mayoral agenda drift, despite repeated promises in general election manifestos, the Government should now look to reinvigorate local democracy through introducing a new mayoral governance model, pulling down powers from the corridors of Whitehall, closer to the people as a first step in further decentralisation.
The future holds a stark reduction in public sector funding no matter which party wins in May. In spite of increased efficiencies and the innovations in service delivery, this decrease in funding will inevitably mean difficult choices about local service provision.
In this climate it is more important than ever that local people feel engaged in the tough decisions that will have to be made, and know who is accountable for making them.
The New Local Government Network (NLGN) believes that by giving elected mayors both greater powers and an increased mandate, local democracy can be reinvigorated and governance brought down to a closer and more appropriate level.
The UK has one of the most centralised governance structures in the western world. Mayors could hold the key to shifting power from Whitehall to localities. By giving elected mayors the tools and powers they need, mayors would be able to further transform the way communities and citizens are served.
These powers should be centred on greater financial flexibility and increased control over public service delivery in a local area.
In itself, however, this does not hold the answers to greater involvement in local democracy. With public trust in politicians at an all time low, politics must be opened up. Too often the selection process for candidates at all levels is seen as a secretive, shadowy process, with very few members of the public actually involved to any degree.
It is high time these political processes are opened up, with the introduction of open primaries. This should be the domain of the progressive left – the parties of the people – who have the most to gain from this agenda, instead of trailing behind the right.
Government must urgently take another look at the mayoral model. With the strengthened mandate given by open primaries and the direct accountability of elected mayors, this new model could provide a prime opportunity for Labour’s rhetoric on localism and opportunity for all to be turned into action and reinvigorate local democracy.
Our guest writers are Nirmalee Wanduragala and Nick Hope, co-authors of the NLGN’s “New Model Mayors: Democracy, Devolution and Direction” report
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
17 Responses to “Directly elected mayors with increased powers will reinvigorate local governance”
Erica Ballmann
RT @leftfootfwd: Directly elected mayors with increased powers will reinvigorate local governance: http://is.gd/70VBn
jkbrum
This is a duff article, calling for an equally duff set of ideas.
1) Directly elected mayors are a duff idea for the reasons given by the other commentators. Centralising power into the hands of one individual reduces democratic engagement. The diversities of cities, such as Birmingham, can’t be represented by one person ( and don’t try to justify it by saying they will have lots of advisors and deputy mayors). Democracy requires deliberation, compromise and negotiation; the values that are devalued by the narrative myth of strong leadership that usually accompanies calls for directly elected mayors
2) Politics is about choices. There is plenty of money for stupid military adventures, hardware and bailing out casino capitalism, so please don’t trip out the old eyewash that money is tight. Money is tight because choices have been made to deprive public services in preference to those projects than benefit the few at the expense of the many.
.
3) I can’t believe that so many on the Left have fallen for the idea of that open primaries are somehow more representative and democratic than party political representatives. Government is about politics. deciding what government is for, how it is to be funded and what public goods it should supply are political decisions, driven by ideology. To deny the importance of politics and ideology in favour of a beauty contest is to devalue democracy and the opportunity for people to make a choice on what they think will help them to the good life.
4) Lastly, this is a no more than a puff article bigging up yet another piece of opinion based on weak evidence. BTW who is funding NLGN these days? Or are you too shy to say?
Anon E Mouse
This is going to be about as popular as the congestion charge in Manchester or the regional assembly’s in the North East.
Have people in this country learned nothing?
neil mcinroy
Disagree with this: http://bit.ly/7EypYg
neil mcinroy
Directly elected mayors will narrow and create a shallow democracy. We need a broad and deep local democracy. http://bit.ly/7EypYg