THE Birmingham Mail today publishes a full, unedited letter from city council leader Mike Whitby, responding to the elected mayor issue.
He, like any citizen, is entitled to opinions and we, as a newspaper, have a duty to accurately record what he is saying.
How disappointing, then, that despite this opportunity, Coun Whitby has chosen not to answer the central question.
On February 15, we asked whether or not he was going to respond to public interest in local governance by holding a voluntary referendum on elected mayors.
Eleven days later, after long consultation and consideration, the reply he sent avoids a direct answer to that question.
Yes, Coun Whitby lays out his perception of public interest in elected mayors, his estimate of the cost and value of a referendum, his interpretation of the fudged referendum held back in 2001 and his vision for Birmingham’s future under his leadership.
But nowhere in 560-plus words does Coun Whitby actually say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: are you going to hold a clear cut, binding referendum in which the electorate has a definitive opportunity to decide whether to have an elected mayor?
The same procrastination came yesterday at a full council meeting when further questions were also dodged.
Indeed, the more Coun Whitby spoke, the more he appeared to tie himself up in string.
So today, the Birmingham Mail has a new message for the him:
Sir, as it took you more than ten days to reply to our initial letter, this paper will give you a further ten publishing days to answer our question on a voluntary referendum.
If there is still no clear answer, we will assume you are against a voluntary referendum and, at that stage, we reserve the right to act on behalf of the people of Birmingham.
That may, if the public are up for it, see the launch of a petition to raise the 36,249 signatures (five per cent of the electorate) needed to legally force the council to hold a referendum.
Coun Whitby – your ten days start tomorrow.
Comments (147)
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