Like many other aspects of our democratic system with which we disagree and want to see fundamental reform – including the first-past-the-post electoral system for electing Parliament, which leaves huge swathes of opinion unrepresented in national government – we believe it is not an option to disengage. Rather, we believe in working to create the best outcomes, and working for change, from within the system we have.

The Liberal Democrats have selected a respected councillor and campaigner, Rod Cantrill, to be their candidate for Mayor, on the premise that the Mayoral office should seek to deploy power back to local people. The new mayor will have power to shape the nature of the office. We think this must be someone dedicated to local knowledge and decision-making, dispersing power rather than acting as a spokesperson for national government in a manner that consolidates overarching power.

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