Plymouth Lib Dems back directly elected mayor for the city

The Plymouth Liberal Democrats have announced their support for the proposal to introduce a directly elected mayor. Local residents will vote on the idea in a citywide referendum on 17 July.

Hugh Janes, Honorary President of the Plymouth Liberal Democrats, said: "This city desperately needs change - everyone can sense that. We keep seeing the same old faces return, time after time, without ever being chosen by the city as a whole. A directly elected mayor would give voters the power to remove a leader who's outstayed their welcome.

"I want to hold someone accountable for what the council does. When Plymouth makes national headlines because the council sends in workers under cover of darkness to chainsaw more than 100 trees, I want a single individual who must answer for that.

"A directly elected mayor gives us that clarity. It's someone who must face the public and the cameras and take responsibility. We need to know where the buck stops - and with a mayor, it stops with them.

"And if we as voters don't like what they do, we can vote them out and choose someone new."

Stuart Bonar, Chair of Plymouth Liberal Democrats, added: "Our local party won't be campaigning actively in the referendum, but we fully support the proposal. The campaign work - the leaflets and door-knocking - is best left to the groups already formed. We hope that everyone campaigning does so positively, honestly, and with good humour.”