REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN: VICTORY for Democracy Referendum in Sheffield

Andrew Pope

We are just hearing the brilliant news that our inspirational friends in Sheffield have won their campaign to change the way that Sheffield City Council is run.

Citizens voted by around 65% to 35% to move the Council to a more inclusive and more democratic system.

More to follow...

Leader of Somerset Independents, Andrew Pope, says:

"Not only have citizens of Sheffield removed the control of Labour from the City Council.

They have now removed the failed so-called "Strong Leader" model of Cabinet, brought in by the Blair Government to try to allow Labour to dominate councils under New Labour.

The "Strong Leader" model puts all decisions in the hands of just 10 councillors. Since the Blair Government brought it in, it has helped the national parties to replicate the failed Westminster model of Government across England including in Somerset.

Somerset Independents began its campaign for a Modern Committee System at Somerset's councils, last year.

We've asked all four district councils to move to the same system, and to offer it in the Referendum that Somerset Independents fought so hard to achieve.

We won the Referendum AGAINST the wishes of national political parties of Labour, Green, Lib Dems and Tories. They didn't want it, but we made them agree to it.

Now we want to see the Referendum offer a "No Change" option and a Modern Committee System."