Gisela Stuart MPWorking hard for Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton

Invisible Leadership Puts Birmingham’s Future At Risk // January 27th, 2012 // Constituency News

Invisible and indecisive leadership risks leaving Birmingham struck behind other cities as they take on new powers and extra cash from Whitehall, says city Labour MP Gisela Stuart.

Gisela spoke out after a week in which two English cities opted to create an elected mayor to fight their corner on the national and international stage. Councillors in Liverpool will be adopting the model as part of a deal with Government that will see the city benefit from an extra £130 million for schools, housing and job creation.  Meanwhile, voters in Salford have also backed the change and will be electing their first mayor at the local polls on May 3^rd.

Birmingham voters will finally get their say on whether to adopt a mayor at a referendum in May, but the vote is only taking place because Government Ministers stepped in and ordered a poll.

Gisela said:

“The fact that Salford and Liverpool have taken the initiative on mayors, whilst our Birmingham’s Tory/Lib Dem coalition has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the ballot box, speaks volumes about their lack of ambition and accountability.

As Leader of the Council, Mike Whitby should have taken the lead and allowed Brummies to decide how their city should be run.  The Leader should have been out in front, doing the deal with Government to invest in Birmingham’s future.

Instead, he’s hidden away and left it to others. It’s time Mike Whitby woke up and put the interests of Birmingham first. He can’t even bring himself to support his own government’s policies. Birmingham deserves better than an invisible leader”.

Gisela’s comments were backed by Lord Andrew Adonis, the former Government Minister and champion of elected mayors. 

Lord Adonis said:

“Liverpool is starting a revolution in city government outside London. Elected mayors are set to become the norm, as in London, and it cannot come a moment too soon to boost jobs, education and public services.”

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