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| Andrew Pope on BBC South Today about "Devolution" Photo: Southampton Independents |
Andrew Pope says: "A sham consultation of Southampton and Hampshire people is not enough to change how we are governed. The big political parties should be made to persuade us, not force us, in a vote, just like the EU Referendum but conducted in a more informed and balanced way by a citizens jury first".
After yesterday's dreadful announcement that Southampton City Council is to be merged with others in the Region, Andrew Pope has given another chance to leaders of Hampshire councils, and leaders of political groups of councillors, to support a Referendum on (a) council reorganisation and (b) an Elected Mayor.
He has written to the leaders of the following councils:
- Hampshire County - Conservative Councillor Nick Adams-King
- New Forest District - Conservative Councillor Jill Cleary
- Test Valley Borough - Conservative Councillor Phil North
- Portsmouth City - Liberal Democrats Councillor Steve Pitt
- Southampton City - Labour Councillor Alex Winning
and previously had been in touch with the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Independent Phil Jordan.
Some of these leaders had responded to previous correspondence on the issues at hand. Others did not.
None had supported a Referendum.
Andrew has also written to the leaders of all political groups in Southampton City Council again. Some had engaged with a debate, but again...
- Conservative Group Leader Councillor Peter Baillie
- Liberal Democrats Group Leader Councillor Richard Blackman
- Labour Group Leader Councillor Alex Winning
- Both Green Councillors Matt Renyard and Katharine Barbour
- The sole Reform Councillor Sarah Powell-Vaughan
None have supported a Referendum, although the Southampton Liberal Democrats did, and then changed their mind.
The author of the article Jason Lewis, the Local Democracy Reporter funded by the BBC, that only includes the views of Labour elected representatives in Southampton, and nobody else in Southampton, was cc'd. The BBC is required to be impartial. Andrew has written to Jason Lewis and the Editor of the Echo, Ben Fishwick, to complain.
