Letter to Local Newspapers

This is in regard to the new mayoralty selection arrangements. I have kept this post in draft form pending the publication of the following week's newspapers.

So far (a week later, on Friday 4 June 2010) only the Messenger has printed it, and even that was minus a small part. Here is the complete letter...

I am pleased that at last Medway Council has joined the majority of other councils in having straight elections for the mayoralty of Medway, taken as before from the body of elected councillors.

The arcane points method was party-serving not public-serving, as the mayor is the people's First Citizen, not a "Buggins' turn" scheme for the benefit of the politicians.

Only someone who has stood for election to the council on a platform supported by a majority of those residents who expressed a preference (i.e. they voted for it at the most recent election) can have legitimacy as those people's representative, whether at ceremonial events or when chairing Council meetings.

Although I personally have enjoyed having mayors from different political parties over the years, I shall always be happy to put my own feelings aside when it comes to ensuring that the mayoralty in future best represents the people of Medway, in common with numerous other councils and, for that matter, how the House of Commons Speaker (who does a similar job) is elected.

UPDATE 9 June: the letter has now appeared, in full this time, in YourMedway.

UPDATE 11 June: the letter has now appeared, again in full, in [Medway] News.