T HERE is no question that if Bristol is to claim a place at the top table of British cities we need an elected mayor. Never mind what Bristol city council leader Barbara Janke may claim, the coming mayoral referendum is our chance to invigorate the way our city is governed. For too long we have lacked charismatic, decisive leadership.
An elected mayor in the style of Boris Johnson or Ken Livingstone could bring us that.
And we have nothing to lose in trying. The current system has hardly delivered a succession of sparkling minds and performers.
The reluctance by Mrs Janke and other local politicians to embrace the idea of an elected mayor is partly self-preservation.
But it also highlights the inertia and the wariness that has dogged Bristol and made this an unattractive city to both business and investors.
Michael Bothamley delivering his final speech as president of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce got it exactly right.
An elected mayor would be a major step forward.
He said it could well lead to Bristol becoming a great city again.
Actually Bristol is already a great city. But what it needs is a great leader and if we vote in favour of an elected mayor then we stand a chance of getting one.
air ambulance graduate certificate in emergency management service charges relief
No comments:
Post a Comment