Unions concerned about 'personality politics' campaign for 'no' vote

“yet they were happy to bankroll Tony Blair for a decade. Funny that.”

“If the Unions are for it then so am I, as the trade unions are the only ones sticking up for ordinary working people these days. Lets not forget unions are representing by their members who are ordianry people. The main people in favour in Bristol are big business who obviously feel they'll do well with a mayor. I say vote no, we can't afford a mayor.”

“If the unions are against it... Then I'm for it. Pretty simple, I'm fed up of the union politics that has occurred in the last year or so. Absolute propaganda been thrown out by all of them, and complete disregard to reality of situations. They are scared as they know they will be FINALLY taken on.”

“@Richard34

You know what you want isn't on the cards. If David Cameron had offerd the four authorities a referendum on a Mayor for Greater Bristol, how do you think the vote would have gone?

You know as well as I that there is no political will within the adjacent authorities, so the outcome would be no. What would this serve to achieve? Just another example of the adjacent authorities depriving Bristol City of an opportunity to secure devolved powers from Central Government. Whilst its not the right proposal, you have to admit that its the pragmatic one that may achieve a Yes. I wish that Bristol City actually covered the whole city, this requires a boundary change to bring all the places you list within the city, not a Mayor for Greater Bristol.”

“There is a grave danger that, should Bristol opt for an elected Mayor, the appointee will be from one of the mainstream political parties, just as the proposed Commissioner for Police and Crime is likely to come from the same background.

This will mean that both positions will become heavily politicised to the detriment of the electorate.

I accept that I am asking for the moon, and will never see it in my lifetime as there are too many vested interests, but the day when political parties cease to play any role in governance the better we shall all be.”

“Another way to read the argument.

Greater Bristol is a region where councils do not communicate and work together effectively for the people who live here. A Greater Bristol Mayor will undo all of this and ensure that the region moved forward but what Mr Cameron has turned his back on this idea and instead he is playing party politics and has chosen to replace a one council leader with another. This elected mayor for Bristol will have no power or control over South Glos i.e. Filton, Frenchay, Winterbourne, Staple Hill, Downend, Emersons Green, Kingswood, Hanham, Longwell Green, Bitton etc and he/she will have no power over parts of Somerset i.e. Keynsham, Long Ashton, Portbury, Easton-in-Gordano, Portishead and Clevedon.

This means that everywhere around Bristol this is growing, has opportunity and has the any impact on Bristol will be decided by other councils who may or may not decide to support one persons vision for Bristol if elected mayor. These areas thrive on the back of Bristol but do not want to be known as Bristol unless it suits their economic success.

It's also important to note that successful elected mayors are working in Greater London where the role oversees lots of council areas and if successful for todays vote in Greater Manchester this position will oversee the running of 10 councils.

In Doncaster there is a vote today to remove the elected mayor after the role has proved to be a disaster and like Bristol, Doncaster is one place and our best argument as a city to compare against.
Whereas Doncaster could remove this post today, that legislation has been removed for Bristol's election and this post cannot be removed without an act of parliament, an act that will never happen.”