'Time is right' for mayor in Birmingham, says chamber

Michael Ward said businesses should speak with "one voice" at a political level

A Birmingham business leader says the "time is right" for the city to appoint an elected mayor.

Michael Ward, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce president, said businesses should "speak with one voice for the region through the office of a mayor".

Speaking at the group's annual dinner, Mr Ward said bosses should also encourage employees to vote "yes" in the city's mayoral referendum on 3 May.

"No" campaigners warn a mayor would be too powerful and unaccountable.

People in Birmingham and nine other cities vote over proposals for a directly-elected mayor in referendums next week.

Where the referendum poll comes out in favour of a mayor, voting for the new position will take place in November.

Mayor 'brand'

Mr Ward told the gathering of hundreds of business people at the city's International Convention Centre: "Like the chamber, the mayor is a brand which is recognised throughout Europe and the world as representing the city which elects them.

"Birmingham Chamber has vigorously supported the principal of an elected mayor representing this city on a regional, national and global basis.

"It is clear that the government is intent on devolving powers to cities who demonstrate the required level of governance.

"The time is right for Birmingham to accept this challenge and to speak with one voice for the region through the office of a mayor."

Mr Ward said that in the past city business leaders had "not been as joined up as we should be" when talking to the government but it was in their "overwhelming interest" to change this.

Mr Ward, a senior partner at Gateley law firm, said "very few" business leaders would have a vote as they lived outside the city, so the chamber had urged them to support the "yes" campaign by encouraging their employees to do so.

However, Birmingham Campaign Against an Elected Mayor claim that if appointed, a mayor would "rule as dictator", not be accountable for four years, and receive a salary of more than £200,000 a year.