Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for nine years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
I've just been listening to someone from the New Labour thinktank Progress on Radio 5 Live talking about radicalism. Asked what the government should do now to be more radical one of the main points she mentioned was implementing directly elected City Mayors.
Somewhat puzzled, the presenter suggested that surely councils could go down that route now if their local population wanted it. Yes, said the Progress person... but in order to do that they have to jump through so many hoops (she means consulting with the people) that many people don't think it is worth it. The government, she said, should impose them on local authorities.
Asked what else she thought the government could do that was radical, our Progress person said, without a hint of irony, "empower people."
You don't think Mayor Piper , has a ring to it ?Why not, you would be a good candidate. I can imagine that pithy Prescottesque invective making for a lively campaign and I don't think there would be any doubt about your commitment to sticking up for the City.
I'll leave aside the fact that Sandwell has sadly not yet been granted City status - probably because there is not an actual place called Sandwell, because if Stoke can be a City, we should - but believe it or not comrade, I think it would weaken local democracy, even with me in the position.
July 30, 2008 1:09 PM | permalink
You don't think Mayor Piper , has a ring to it ?Why not, you would be a good candidate. I can imagine that pithy Prescottesque invective making for a lively campaign and I don't think there would be any doubt about your commitment to sticking up for the City.