Plymouth votes against directly elected mayor model in historic referendum
The city will continue to be run by a council leader and cabinet, after narrowly voting to maintain the status quo.
Turnout in the referendum was 19.1 per cent. A total of 19,840 people voted in favour of the 'leader' model; 18,044 opted for the mayor choice.
Charlotte Holloway, who led the 'Plymouth Knows Better' campaign, said: 'This was a rejection of the failed city mayor model. Today Plymothians have shown that it won't work here.
'This was always a pointless referendum, it cost £410,000, that's money we all want to see spent on children in care, on filling our potholes.
'Plymouth is a marginal city. I don't see this as a movement or a momentum or a swelling of discontent. I would describe this more as a murmur.
'We've got to look forward, we're a city on the up, the hard work continues.'
'Democracy has been trampled on'
The Government plans to introduce legislation which would stop the creation of new city mayors, while accepting the continuation of 13 existing mayors.
Angus Forbes, who led the pro-mayor campaign, said: 'We accept the result, we trust the process. But democracy has been trampled on over the past few months.
'We came up against the full might of the Labour party, local MPs and Westminster. Our team worked extremely hard. There is a desire for change and change is coming. This is the first step.
'Janners are great people, they are resilient people and they want change.'
'Dead end'
Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: 'This referendum was always a dead end, and I'm pleased Plymouth has rejected this costly, failed experiment. It was clear from the start that it would never lead to a city mayor for Plymouth.
'I told Mr Forbes last year that this model was being scrapped, and yet he pushed ahead regardless.
'At a time when our city needs every penny focused on frontline services - on social care, helping kids in care, and filling our potholes - £410,000 has been wasted on a vote that changes nothing.'
Fred Thomas, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: 'I am really pleased that the people of Plymouth have voted to reject this model that has been tried, tested and failed across the country. We now need to move on and put the division behind us.
'This referendum was a waste of time, money, and energy. The government has already made clear that no new city mayors will be created – the referendum was pointless.
'I know that people want to see change in Plymouth and that is why they may have voted for a Mayor, I want to see change too. But this referendum was never going to deliver it – so let's move on and work together to make our city an even better place to live.'
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