In the lead up to the campaign launch for a directly elected mayor, supporters from political parties have been voicing their support.
Today three more Labour councillors have announced they are backing the campaign to trigger a referendum for the people of Cardiff to decide on whether they want a directly elected mayor for the city.
Councillor Lynda Throne from Grangetown said, ’Since I came into politics Local Government has changed and the expectations of our communities has changed and whilst I am not fully convinced by the need for an elected Mayor, I think we have to allow the referendum so a real debate can take place with all the facts laid before us and since we now have the window, it would be wrong to prevent a referendum with those facts laid out from taking place.
And Former Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Heather Joyce from Llanrumney has also thrown her support behind the campaign saying, ‘’As far back as 2012 I stated that I would support a push for a referendum if there was ever a call for it in Cardiff. My position hasn’t changed and there does now seem to be that call’’
Councillor Manzor Ahmed, from Adamsdown said, ““I absolutely support calls for a referendum around the subject of an elected mayor, this shouldn’t be something swept under the carpet instead all options must be debated for the public to make a decision with the full knowledge. Something that will not happen without a referendum.”
Other Labour councillors who have already backed the campaign are Russell Goodway councillor for Ely, Ashley Govier for Grangetown and Huw Thomas for Splott.
The launch will take place on Queen Street in Cardiff with campaigners taking to the street to start collecting the 24,647 votes needed from the Cardiff electorate to trigger a referendum.
If the referendum is successful and a Yes vote is won, then Cardiff could have Wales’ first directly elected Mayor in 2017. There are already 17 directly elected Mayors in England, with more on the way.
