Metro Mayor: Necessary or Needless? Banks Calls for "Redundancy" Review.
As Bristol boils over LTNs, Reform candidate promises to dismantle "ideological zealotry" and restore community trust.
(Image: courtesy of Bristol Live)
Reform UK candidate Arron Banks, known for his dry humour, has raised pertinent questions about the necessity of the West of England metro mayor role, questioning its purpose and efficiency. While his approach may be unorthodox, his concerns about bureaucratic layers resonate with those frustrated by perceived governmental overreach.
Banks, currently polling around 18 per cent in the upcoming election, openly admits to struggling to define the metro mayor's function. "I have tried to figure out what this office does and I can’t," he stated in an interview with The Times. Wryly, he proposes appointing a deputy to handle the responsibilities, suggesting the role may be redundant. "I’ll probably appoint a deputy mayor and give him instructions. I’ll direct him from my chateau 30 miles behind the lines and get some results," he said, before adding, "All joking aside, I have tried to figure out what this office does, and I can’t see what it actually does. It’s meant to coordinate stuff between the councils, but they have achieved nothing."
His critique extends to the broader issue of local government efficiency. "I personally think local politics should be independent...but actually people now use local government as a stopping-off podium to so-called better things.” Perhaps forgetting to mention our former Elected Mayor of Bristol? “They have mayors everywhere … I am not sure it is leading to well-run [authorities], the amount of money leaking from every level is horrendous," he claimed.
Banks's background as a businessman distinguishes him from other candidates, who he contends are "very nice people but they have done absolutely nothing." He argues that his practical experience is a valuable asset in addressing the region's challenges. "If Reform can win here, they can win anywhere. I think the key for me will be if some of the Conservative voters back me because I’m a businessman and supposedly sensible."
His campaign strategy, focusing on "the air war" through social media, has garnered significant attention, even if it has drawn criticism from rival candidates. Green Party candidate Mary Page, for example, accused him of arrogance. However, Banks maintains that his approach is effective in reaching a wider audience. "Generally speaking, it’s more effective to speak to people through the media," he asserted. As a former Mayoral candidate myself, on this point I agree with him. To say nothing of not being invited to hustings in a lot of cases.
Bristol is simmering with a growing sense of disconnect. A chasm has opened between the city council, led by the Green Party, and many of its residents. This isn't a sudden rift, but a gradual erosion of trust, fuelled by a perception of decisions being imposed from above, particularly concerning the rapid and often controversial implementation of "Liveable Neighbourhoods" (LTNs) and other traffic management measures. Despite a growing graveyard of unsuccessful Low-Traffic Neighbourhood schemes across the country, Bristol's Green administration pressed ahead, raising serious questions about its motivations, engagement with residents, and whether ideological zealotry trumped practical evidence and community needs.
It is important to note that these Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes are currently funded through the Metro Mayor's office. The air crackles with accusations of ignored voices, prioritised ideologies, and a council seemingly deaf to the daily realities of its diverse communities. The evidence of LTN schemes failing to deliver on their promises and sparking significant community backlash is mounting. Especially after seeing these effects of the Green Party running the Bristol Council, many voters may wonder if they want more of the same.
Interestingly, Green Party candidate Mary Page (who jumped ship from the LibDems, by the way), despite her criticism of Banks’s style, shares a similar sentiment about the Metro Mayor role's fundamental nature. Page, who successfully campaigned to scrap the directly elected mayor of Bristol, has publicly stated that the Metro Mayor position is "completely opposite" to the Bristol role she opposed. This implies a shared scepticism with Banks about the current structure and function of the Metro Mayor's office, suggesting both see it as potentially inefficient or misaligned with local needs. While their political ideologies differ significantly, their critiques converge on the issue of bureaucratic effectiveness. This common ground underscores a broader concern about the role's clarity and utility, cutting across traditional political divides.
As Metro Mayor, Aaron Banks would likely prioritise a more pragmatic, results-driven approach to local governance, particularly concerning traffic management and community engagement. He would likely dismantle or significantly alter existing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) based on evidence of their ineffectiveness and negative impacts, emphasising data-driven decisions rather than ideological pursuits. Banks would focus on streamlining bureaucratic processes, aiming to reduce perceived mismanagement and ensure that public funds are utilised efficiently. He would likely implement more rigorous public consultations, giving greater weight to community feedback and ensuring that local policies reflect the needs and concerns of residents rather than abstract policy goals.
Banks would likely challenge the existing culture of local government, fostering a more transparent and accountable system. He would scrutinise infrastructure projects and policy initiatives for their practical outcomes, demanding clear evidence of positive impact before implementation. His approach would be characterised by a focus on measurable results and a willingness to reverse policies that do not deliver tangible benefits to the community. By prioritising efficiency and responsiveness, he would aim to rebuild public trust in local governance, addressing the perceived disregard for community concerns that have fueled voter dissatisfaction.
So far, what’s not to like?
