JOHN Prescott has urged Manchester to consider appointing a Ken Livingstone-style mayor.
The deputy prime minister, speaking at the launch of the three-day sustainable communities conference in the city, said powerful elected mayors could provide major cities like Manchester with strategic leadership.
"We think it is interesting to offer the option," he said. "There are an awful lot of bodies making decisions through health, education, and so on - and authorities think they don't get enough co-ordinated effort.
"We have directly-elected American mayors at the summit and it has made big changes in those cities.
"Places like Manchester may want to do it but it is up to Manchester to make the decision."
Petition
Areas can currently hold referendums on whether to have directly-elected mayors taking over from council leaders if five per cent of people sign a petition.
Mr Prescott said there was no plan to change that position.
The deputy prime minister also agreed that the Metrolink "big bang" was essential to building sustainable communities in Greater Manchester.
But he added: "That is why we have given so much money and why I gave a further '250m. The fact costs have doubled has created problems.
"There is no doubt Metrolink has improved Manchester immeasurably thanks to the amount of money the Government has given it."
Should Manchester have a London-style mayor? Have your say.
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Greater Manchester should have a mayor and an assembly like London. Politicians have to realise that cities like Manchester and Liverpool will not agree to the other hosting a regional parliament or having decisions taken in Warrington.
We already have a mayor of manchester didnt grace and favour john prescott know that and as for the enormous amount of money given to the metrolink(his proclamation not mine)what about the turnaround the labour govt made when they realised costs had escalated/ funny we found 50K for some flowers for john and that we re-decorate for his family at public expense/ a decent public transport system would benefit the whole of manchester. Dont give advice ferry waiter john otherwise you will get a few home truths thrown back at your publicy overspent position.
This is a nonsense. Ken Livingstone is the Mayor for Greater London - all 32 Boroughs. The equivalent would be a mayor for all 10 Districts of Greater Manchester, only then would the Mayor have the strategic clout. Having a Mayor in a single, although very important district like Manchester, would be pointless. It is not big enough.
Mmmmmmmmm, lets remember your ast good idea Mr Deputy PM. The "North East" and "North west" regional asemblies. What ever hapened to them?
Oh yes - the public voted against the "north east" one because they didnt want another tier of politicians with their snouts in the trough.
The "north west" referendum was thus quietly abandoned too.
Why is an elected mayor any different.
Instead of new ideas gallore - and money spent on a "north west regional assembly" which is already in existance despite the public not being given a say in it - why not spend the money on useful projects that would really benefit - like the "METROLINK" extension which you try and claim the government has supported!
He's determined to divide England up into his beloved 'regions' isn't he? And who on Earth would want a Mayor of Manchester if he were to be anything like Red Ken? He's introduced the hated congestion charge (and is putting it up from B#5 to B#8!) and is currently having to force up bus fares to pay for his bonkers schemes. Do we want one? No way!
No thanks, we have enough loony lefties already in this city. Livingstone lets pro terrorist citizens roam freely promoting their rhetoric, anti semetic, anti west views on the streets of London, our once proud capital thats been taken over by aslymum seekers, thieves and millionaire socialists.
I think Manchester should have a mayor, all major international cities have an elected mayor. I do agree with the previous person, that it has to be Greater Manchester and not just the borought of Manchester.
A Major for greater Manchester (all 10 Councils) would make more sense. You could bring together the operations and budgets of organisations that work across the 10 areas already, such as GM Waste, Passenger transport, the Ambulance Service, the Police, the Fire Authority, the Airport etc. More strategic work could then be done across all 10 councils, bringing more prosperity to Greater Manchester. We all have our strengths that need to be played to, whether it be in tourism, commerce or industry. We don't want to go back to the old Greater Manchester Council, but an elected Mayor for the area would be a better bet.
tell johnny 2 jags to clear off back to london and keep his ideas to himself. everytime he opens his mouth he puts his foot in it. regional assembly idea was a complete farce. his new homes initiative in south east england is under fire already, now this nonsense of an elected mayor. go home and spend another 82,000 on moving the gym in your department. how muchdo WE pay this clown - he certainly doesnt deserve it.
even phony tony doesnt trust the man - whenever phony is out of the country he has left the running of this country to civil servants rather than an idiot.
johnny 2 jags is a real champagne socialist now, he has got his nose firmly in the trough.
Though I don't agree with the Deputy PM on this, It is sad to read the bile that passes for debate from some respondents. And someone explain to Bernie about elected mayors. They've only been around for 4 years - clearly he doesn't catch on quick.