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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| City votes to eject elected mayor | City votes to eject elected mayor |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Voters in Stoke-on-Trent have voted to get rid of their elected mayor. | Voters in Stoke-on-Trent have voted to get rid of their elected mayor. |
| The current political system, which is unique in England, will be replaced by a council leader and cabinet set-up. | The current political system, which is unique in England, will be replaced by a council leader and cabinet set-up. |
| The referendum vote was 21,231 for a council leader and cabinet, and 14,592 for a mayor and cabinet. The turnout was 19.23%. | The referendum vote was 21,231 for a council leader and cabinet, and 14,592 for a mayor and cabinet. The turnout was 19.23%. |
| A government commission said the city must change its system, under which the elected Labour mayor Mark Meredith and his chief executive make all decisions. | A government commission said the city must change its system, under which the elected Labour mayor Mark Meredith and his chief executive make all decisions. |
| These decisions are then scrutinised by the rest of the councillors. | These decisions are then scrutinised by the rest of the councillors. |
| 'Move forward' | 'Move forward' |
| Mr Meredith will serve as mayor until spring 2009. | Mr Meredith will serve as mayor until spring 2009. |
| When his term finishes there will be 11 elected mayors left in England, including London's mayor Boris Johnson. | When his term finishes there will be 11 elected mayors left in England, including London's mayor Boris Johnson. |
| A good result for democracy Council leader campaigner Mick Salih | A good result for democracy Council leader campaigner Mick Salih |
| Mr Meredith said he was disappointed with the result of the referendum. | Mr Meredith said he was disappointed with the result of the referendum. |
| He said: "In politics you win some and you lose some. | He said: "In politics you win some and you lose some. |
| "We have to accept the results of the people of Stoke-on-Trent and we do need to move forward together. | "We have to accept the results of the people of Stoke-on-Trent and we do need to move forward together. |
| "I wish the councillors the very best of luck. I will continue to work with those councillors over the next few months to try and improve the lot of our people here in Stoke-on-Trent." | "I wish the councillors the very best of luck. I will continue to work with those councillors over the next few months to try and improve the lot of our people here in Stoke-on-Trent." |
| Stoke-on-Trent councillors had already said they preferred the option of an elected council leader with a cabinet. | Stoke-on-Trent councillors had already said they preferred the option of an elected council leader with a cabinet. |
| Advertisement | |
| Fewer than 20% of voters turned out | |
| City councillor Mick Salih, a campaigner for the council leader system, said the poll was "a good result for the people of Stoke" and "a good result for democracy". | City councillor Mick Salih, a campaigner for the council leader system, said the poll was "a good result for the people of Stoke" and "a good result for democracy". |
| He added it would mean more councillors getting involved in the decision-making process. | He added it would mean more councillors getting involved in the decision-making process. |
| The authority was the only one in England to have adopted the elected mayor and council manager model of governance. | The authority was the only one in England to have adopted the elected mayor and council manager model of governance. |
| However, this option has been withdrawn by the government and the city council was told to adopt one of the other two options - a council leader and cabinet or a mayor and cabinet. | However, this option has been withdrawn by the government and the city council was told to adopt one of the other two options - a council leader and cabinet or a mayor and cabinet. |
| The full city council will meet on 13 November to make a formal decision to implement the system chosen in the referendum. | The full city council will meet on 13 November to make a formal decision to implement the system chosen in the referendum. |
| A new constitution will be put to a council meeting on 29 January 2009. | A new constitution will be put to a council meeting on 29 January 2009. |