56% British public support idea of directly-elected mayors, as referendum decision approaches
The British public is largely in support of having directly-elected mayors in towns, our poll has found, with over half supporting the introduction of mayors instead of council leaders.
- 56% of British people would support the introduction of directly-elected mayors
- 17% oppose the idea
The results come in light of the upcoming referendums in certain British towns and cities, which will allow local people to decide whether they should have directly-elected mayors instead of council leaders – a system already in place in certain large towns and cities, including Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Watford, Doncaster, Leicester and the capital London.
May will not be the first time that local residents have been given the chance to vote for a mayoral system – a referendum was held in each of the towns listed above; resulting in their changeover – while in the past five years a negative result has been counted in elections in towns such as Great Yarmouth, Bury, Darlington and Crewe.
While Liverpool has already decided to forgo a vote and switch to the mayoral system, other towns and cities including Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield will be making a decision on their leadership system early next month.
