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Nellist turns down position of Deputy Lord Mayor to fight the cuts

Dave Nellist turns down the position of Deputy Lord Mayor

The following letter was sent to John Mutton, Labour leader of Coventry City Council. Dave had been contacted about becoming Deputy Lord Mayor (tradition dictates that the longest serving councillors get offered the opportunity of becoming Lord Mayor). In this letter Dave outlines his reasons for refusing.

Letter sent to John Mutton 21.02.12

Dear John

Thank you for your kind invitation for me to become Deputy Lord Mayor in May, which would normally lead on to the position of Lord Mayor in 2013.  I have taken soundings from a number of local people, and other Socialist Party supporters, and I'm writing to let you know why I don't feel, at this time, able to accept.

I would not be so churlish as not to appreciate the enormous honour of the ceremonial role and the greater contact over two years, with people young and old, in the city.  I would enjoy mayoral visits to everyone from schools to care homes, celebrating with local people.  I would take seriously being the voice of sympathy for the city in commiserating with those who have suffered loss.

Some of your colleagues have urged me to accept, saying I could bring a radical edge, particularly in the second year in terms of support for campaigns, to the job of Lord Mayor.  And I have been tempted.

The first thing I thought I could have done, for example, would have been to invite all those in the queue for food parcels on a Sunday morning by the Swanswell to eat at the expense of the Lord Mayor's hospitality budget that day (and pay for it by cancelling all the normal municipal dinners and attendances at other Lord Mayors do's across the region). You see I think we urgently need to review the Council's role and responsibility in the matter of dealing with growing austerity and the attack our city is under, not leave it to the generosity of individuals or of faith organisations.

But despite the attractions of the possibilities, it's the limitations that worry me, and tip the balance.

Since Labour changed Coventry Council's constitution 10 years ago the Lord Mayor is required, when votes in council meetings are tied, to exercise their casting vote for the majority party (which at the moment would require me to support your programme, and could mean me being obliged to vote for cuts).

The terms of the posts of Deputy Lord Mayor and Lord Mayor require political neutrality, and would force me (at the moment the only consistent critic in the Chamber against the adoption of the Government's austerity plan) to be silent for two years whilst those cuts are inflicted.  I could not in all conscience do that.

So despite, as I say, the attractions of getting even closer to the people of the city in which I have made my home for the last 40 years, the overriding need to continue to be an uncensored voice against cuts and austerity is the reason that I have decided to decline your offer to propose me as Deputy Lord Mayor for 2012/13.

I will be passing a copy of this letter on to the press so that my reasons for refusal can be made clear.

Once again, thank you for the invitation.

Regards,

Dave Nellist

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