The Mayor Consultation - Betrayal in a few easy steps

 A consultation was completed by Cornwall Council regarding the Conservative parties bribe for Cornwall. The promise was a “big deal” for Cornwall resulting in better more devolved level of power for the Cornish people. However, when the deal was revealed, we discovered that there was no benefits with the deal. £12 million a year is earmarked for very specific tasks, whilst a £60 million deficit has not been resolved or reduced. An improvement in local democracy was expected, but instead the Mayor position has guaranteed the opposite of the this hope. The position of mayor requires a vast majority of Cornwall councillors to overturn any choice that the Mayor has made that they oppose against, such as the budget. We should also keep in mind that many authorities that have access to the level 3 funding, which the devolution deal is supposed to ensure, do not have Mayors. And at least one place who did has scrapped the position.

 

An important component of conservatism must be brought forward for examination. That being the preference of a small national government with minimal power and regional governments with the authority to make most of the local government decisions with a low level of interference. In theory, more power to local, accessible authorities would be in line with this theory. But unfortunately, it is expected that this mayor position is hoped to keep tighter control over the Duchy of Cornwall and it’s citizens. The Council, and the bean counters above, enacted a several week consultation for the devolution and by extension the executive position. However, the power given to the Mayor over the council leans towards stronger authoritarian undercurrents.

 

During the consultation, over 5,000 respondents voiced their thoughts. Nearly 70% made their disapproval known. Linda Taylor, the leader of the council, has chosen to ignore this.  Using the “Silent majority”, a favourite tactic of the Chinese communist party who are well known for ignoring the needs and wants of their people, Linda Taylor has decided that the voices of those who responded to the consultation do not matter. The Conservative party occupying Cornwall council is not a authoritarian dictatorship, but they do sure like copying their homework.