Bristol's Conservative Party urge voters to say 'yes' to Bristol mayor

“Yes, yes yes!”

“If you are going to reorganise local government eg having an Elected Mayors in cities, it makes little sense to add in another layer of politicians and associated bureaucrats - should take the opportunity to rationalise instead. It alos makes little sense in the Bristol area to restrict the area governed strictly to that currently run by Bristol City Council - so why not take a bit longer and reorganise properly? Not spelling out exactly what additional powers and additional money available leaves voters not knowing fully what they are voting for. Sounds like a very bad deal to me.”

“Bristol gets the Councillors they elect, and if they have an elected Mayor, who will they get, unmovable for four years.
Be very afraid of those elected by Bristolians”

“Forgeting all the political issues, I just look at the principle of the referendum. ie: Vote YES to get a sort of dictatorship. Vote NO to get a sort of democracy ?”

“@BrentryEd - "An Elected Mayor costs too much: end of story."

BUT . . . Look how much the LibDem Council has cost us.

Do you want someone you directly elected to run Bristol?

Or the 'political wing of First Bus' (a.k.a. the LibDems)?”

“CONservatives in favour? No other reason needed to vote against it.”

“it's the art of the possible, hedgehog.”

“Look at page 7 of the referendum leaflet, and you find that an elected mayor will cost more.

I've enough bills, and the Granny Tax will likely cost me another £1000 a year - so NO!”

“@SpinyHedgehog

I support your Mayor for the whole of bristol stance, unfortunatly that is not on offer. I don't see how a No vote helps towards that objective.

Looking at whats emerging from Government, the Local Economic Partnership is currently amassing a role in co-ordinating infrastructure funding and Local authoritieis are starting to devolve powers to neighbourhood partnerships. Reading between the lines the direction of travel is more power at neighbourhood level and more power for the LEP and mayor at city region level. I can see the Local authorities in the middle.

For me, even if the Mayor is just for BCC the others will want to talk to him/her if they have access to devolved financial powers and funding to get things done, so a Yes vote could still result in a more strategic view of the City and leading to the big, transport leisure projects getting done.”

“@PJ1979

I think you miss the real self interest here - most politicians want a Mayor because that's one more well-paid job for a politician.

I'm happy to have a mayor for the WHOLE of Bristol. Until we get that, I'm voting No.”