Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Pickles and David Ward(13 years, 12 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 Lord Pickles and David Ward(14 years, 1 month 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.