The voters of Leicester are to be given the opportunity to vote for a mayor in May 2011. At the moment, as a member of the Labour Party, I am being sent (bombarded is too strong) material from the candidates offering themselves for the Labour ticket. I do not know if the other parties are putting up candidates.
I am uncertain about the wisdom of having an elected mayor. There are some biggish hitters standing. Sir Peter Soulsbury currently MP for Leicester South and Ross Willmott , the would-be MP for North West Leicestershire, and both with histories of leading Leicester City Council. I thought that Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, might consider standing. There are other candidates definitely standing including the magnificently named High Sheriff, who is a senior asian Labour councillor.
As the debates heats up Notes from LE2 will be reporting developments.....
Questions that need raising with would-be mayors include the following and are my concerns. What are yours?
the threatened cuts to voluntary sector organisations in the city. Which way did those candidates who are already city councillors vote and why?
when did the prospective candidate last visit the LGBT centre and what support have they given to the the LGBT communities in Leicester?
educational standards in the city: how can they be improved?
the proliferation of faith schools: do you support them?
does the mayoral candidate agree that the impression that some minority groups are ignored to placate certain faith groups makes a mockery of the slogan 'One Leicester' http://www.oneleicester.com/one-leicester-vision/
the lack of a modern, information-age, central public library: what is you view?
the cultural quarter: where is it going?
the future of the De Montfort Hall: what is it?
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