Following the referendum result, whilst I welcome the opportunity Salford now has to elect a competent elected Mayor coming not from the Labour Party - an opportunity which carries with it the real possibility for lower taxes and better local government in Salford - it must be said that the referendum's result on such a ridiculously low 18% turnout is devoid of any democratic legitimacy whatsoever.
It makes a mockery of democracy that action will now be taken to fundamentally alter the local government of the City of Salford on the basis of the stated support of just 10% of the Salford electorate. To have permitted the referendum result to be enforceable on any turnout below at least two-thirds is an abomination; there is something seriously wrong with our 'democratic' process.
Will Salford now elect a BNP Mayor?
It makes a mockery of democracy that action will now be taken to fundamentally alter the local government of the City of Salford on the basis of the stated support of just 10% of the Salford electorate. To have permitted the referendum result to be enforceable on any turnout below at least two-thirds is an abomination; there is something seriously wrong with our 'democratic' process.
Will Salford now elect a BNP Mayor?