26 Jan 2012, 3:22 pm
Mayors have been described by the Government as having a crucial role to play in providing cities with strong, democratically accountable leadership. The Government has said that it believes mayors can encourage economic growth and investment in cities and bring real benefits for residents and businesses.
Referendums will be held in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield. Any resulting mayoral elections will take place from 15 November and mayors will serve a four year term.
"Elected mayors provide cities with the strong, visible leadership that can help them prosper nationally and internationally. This is an opportunity for each city to transform itself for the better," said Clark. "The world's great cities have mayors who lead for their city on the national and international stage, attracting investment and jobs. We believe that mayors can help English cities achieve their full potential too."
Yesterday's announcement follows on from the coalition Government's commitment, made in May 2010, to create directly-elected mayors in the 12 largest cities outside of London.
Leicester elected Peter Soulsby as its first Mayor in May 2011. "The eyes of the country will be on Leicester and what we do here may well be held up as a blueprint for other cities who want to follow our lead and elect a mayor," he said at the time.
