“Whoever you vote for,” an old geezer told me recently, “It’s a bloody politician who gets in.”
I’ve been asked a few times recently if/how I’ll vote on the mayor-issue. My heart sinks. This mini-referendum is boring, important, difficult. Can I be bothered?
What are we voting for? What powers would a Mayor have? Would it make a difference?
Even asking the questions numbs my mind, let alone listening to answers that come my way.
To me, this is the issue:
Paul Dale
I’m delighted to announce that Paul Dale, former public affairs editor at The Birmingham Post, has joined The Chamberlain Files as our lead blogger.
Paul, who left the Post at the end of last year, will contribute regular comment pieces and news items to the blog, which is rapidly becoming the region’s leading source of political intelligence, analysis and comment.
The former author of the Post’s Iron Angle column is one of the most respected political journalists in the regional press,
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I attended the British Property Federation briefing event on the Localism Bill with some co-conspirators this evening. Turley Associates (planning consultants), Birmingham City Council and PPS (public affairs) provided the speakers. Wragge & co were in charge of the rather nice canapés.
As Andrew Round from BCC commented, it’s difficult to philosophically argue with the localism cause. The UK, even after devolution, is far too centrally run and regulated. It’s also true that much of the Coalition Government’s localism policy leaves a little to be desired when it comes to the detail, not least in terms of the planning process.
I was, however, disappointed by the mood and tone of the event. Very negative and cynical. One might even suggest that the property and legal types don’t like the idea of change – and the impact it will have on their lives and businesses.
Localism is good and it’s happening. Not brilliant and pretty in parts, but the direction of travel is right.
The subject of LEPs inevitably reared its head. Inevitably too, there was much chuntering on the vagueness and LEPs boundaries, powers and budgets. Fine, they are another imperfect policy.
