Robert Hampton

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26th January 2012

Night-Mayor

Liverpool could have an elected mayor by May this year, if certain news reports turn out to be accurate.

The mayor would not be as powerful as London’s (for example, Liverpool’s mayor would lack the sweeping powers over transport and policing enjoyed by Boris Johnson) but would be in overall charge of the city’s day-to-day running. In theory, there would be less beauracracy and more accountability.

It all sounds great, until you see the terrifying list of potential candidates identified by the Liverpool Echo. After sensible people like current council leader Joe Anderson and LibDem councillor Paula Keaveney, we get Ricky Tomlinson and – yikes – Phil Redmond (“Being mayor is a bit like a Scouse wedding”). I don’t know why they didn’t throw in Jimmy Corkhill and Harry Enfield in a curly wig for good measure. Perhaps Ken Dodd could take over; his zero-rate tax policy would be popular (at least, until voters realised it only applied to him).

Hopefully we will get someone rational, not a celebrity candidate or the next Derek Hatton. We could hardly fare worse than Doncaster, who elected the English Democrat candidate Peter Davies in 2009. His valuable contributions to civic life have included “stopping political correctness” and saying that Britain could learn from Taliban family values.

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2 Responses
  1. Comment by Ian
    29th January 2012 at 3:34 pm

    No mention of Pete Price among the favourites? Or rather, no mention BY Pete Price of being among the favourites? It’s surely only a matter of time. *shudder*

  2. Comment by Robert
    2nd February 2012 at 7:41 pm

    According to his Echo column tonight, he has thought “long and hard” but decided not to run, as he can “do more good” with his radio show. Looks like Herbert is the front-runner now!