THIS week the people of West Devon are being asked to cast their vote on whether they wish to have a mayor in charge of the council's services. New Labour have been trying to convince us that their 'Modernising Local Government' agenda, of which this is part, will bring democracy closer to the people.
In fact, adopting a mayor and cabinet system to run our council and its services will do no such thing. Instead it will merely reinforce the trend towards residential style campaigning in British politics whereby election campaigns focus more on personalities than on the issues.
Elected mayors are also a recipe for greater patronage and corruption in local government. The idea of elected mayors in this country has largely been imported from the United States. However, US elected mayors are frequently associated with the mafia and drugs — over 50 former US mayors are currently in prison!
Certainly, the ever declining turnout in local government elections does indicate a need to revitalise democracy at a local level. However, the changes which would genuinely increase interest and participation in local democracy are not on the Government's agenda. Examples of such changes would be:
l The introduction of proportional representation, thus making voting worthwhile for all.
l The decentralisation of power from central government and from regional quangos to local government.
l Encouraging young people to become involved in the democratic process by reducing the voting age, and the minimum age for the elected representatives to 16.
l Introducing the right to recall councillors local people feel are not representing their views.
When thinking about how to vote, I would encourage the people of West Devon to consider the bigger picture. Democracy and the power of citizens are under attack on many fronts. The Government's recent Planning Green Paper is proposing the abolition of structure plans and local plans; removing the right of local people to argue about the need for and the location of major new developments.
Tony Blair's entire modernising agenda is merely a cover for this privatising agenda, selling off public services to the private sector, regardless of the social, economic and environmental consequences.
Anyone who cares about our public services and about democracy should vote no in the referendum.
Martin Quinn
West Devon Green Party Old Exeter Road Tavistock