Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between David Ward and Lord Pickles(13 years, 6 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr David Ward (Bradford East) (LD)
Will the Minister confirm whether the requirement on local authorities to front-load the budget reductions is in any way connected to the protection of the Olympics budget?
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between David Ward and Lord Pickles(13 years, 7 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Pickles
I have to say that Linda Arkley is doing a fantastic job as the Conservative mayor, and a very effective one, too. Perhaps the hon. Lady should have paid a little more attention to the earlier question, when I ruled out the possibility that we would be imposing mayors. This will be subject to a referendum. It was the Labour party that imposed forms of government on local government without consultation and without listening. This Government have learned the lesson; we will follow the will of the people.
Mr David Ward (Bradford East) (LD)
Does the Secretary of State agree that, in regard to the localism agenda, there might be a case for arguing that the imposition of a referendum on elected mayors is as bad as the imposition of elected mayors themselves?
Mr Pickles
My hon. Friend, whom I have known for the best part of 30 years, is sometimes a stranger to democracy. I know that democracy is an inconvenience, but I do not think it that it will do any harm to consult the people of Bradford.