Campaign leader calls for apology over moves

ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BLAME FOR LOW TURNOUT, INSISTS PETITIONER ANGUS FORBES

- By ALISON STEPHENSON

LEADING campaigner for A Mayor for Plymouth, Angus Forbes, has called for the Prime Minister to issue an apology to the city's residents for the Government “inferring that the referendum was cancelled” three weeks before the event.

Plymouth voted No to a directly elected mayor or city mayor on Thursday, after a highly charged campaign on both sides. Three weeks ago minister of state for local government and English devolution, Jim McMahon, confirmed that no new city mayors would be created under new devolution laws.

He said that any election, should the referendum vote in favour of having a directly elected mayor, would be postponed to May 2027 to allow a bill to pass through parliament.