We are sorry to tell you that yesterday the Let Cornwall Decide-backed motion to guarantee a council vote on a Mayor Referendum was defeated at a full council debate. A bad tempered meeting ended up with our proposal voted down by just one vote.
Every single non-Conservative councillor supported our proposal. A handful of Conservatives bravely supported it too. But the Conservative Leader Councillor Linda Taylor (who wants to be Mayor) whipped her councillors to stop it. Instead her alternative motion was passed, offering only to “consider whether” to have a vote on a referendum and for this to be “deferred”. We all know what that means.
It was a kick in the teeth for all 6,200 of you who signed this petition. And for the 74 local parish and town councils who have called for a referendum (together they represent 56% of Cornish voters).
There can be in no doubt about the strength of feeling about this. Cornwall's MPs have certainly noticed. Three of them have come out publicly against an imposed Mayor now. But the Council leadership are ploughing on regardless. They very obviously don't want the people of Cornwall to decide and we all know why...
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
REPLY TO THE CONSULTATION!
When the official Cornwall Council consultation begins, any day now, please take part. Demand a referendum. Say if you oppose a Mayor.
Many fear the “consultation” will be a hard-sell of the Government’s Deal package. It may even avoid clear mayor/referendum questions. Linda Taylor even admitted yesterday that the Government (which wants a Mayor of Cornwall) is helping to write the consultation! It's all very underhand.
One thing we do know for certain is that the Deal on offer will not give Cornwall Council any extra money for services (eg Social Care). Not £1.
Whatever is offered as a bribe, don’t forget what is at stake here: an all-powerful MILLION POUND MAYOR running Cornwall for five years from May 2024.
We are sorry we don’t have better news. But we see this as a setback not a final decision. We do not think a Mayor of Cornwall will be credible if they are imposed on Cornwall. We value your help spreading this message. If you would like any further information please do come back to us.
Let Cornwall Decide (www.letcornwalldecide.com
PS Don't forget to reply to the Consultation. Make your views heard!