Labour Party councillors will not campaign for or against an elected mayor in the city next year, saying “the people should decide”.
The coalition government said it wanted to introduce directly elected mayors, similar to the role in London.
A referendum is due to take place next summer, with voters in the city being asked to choose whether to directly elect a mayor or stick with the current system.
An influential group of Bristolians last year began a campaign to promote an elected mayor. Their aim is to “influence the hearts and minds of the citizens of Bristol about how life could be if we were given more autonomy, and the clout that a single figure head with the right experience could give us in pushing projects of importance through”.
Meanwhile, in October last year, businesses in Bristol threw their weight behind the campaign.
Business organisations GWE Business West said an overwhelming 86% of the 200 members who responded to a recent survey majority backed the idea of an elected mayor.
Now, Labour councillors have said that they will stand aside and let the people decide on the issue.
“Already many people distrust what they see as a political establishment working in their own narrow party-political interests – so to campaign for or against having an elected Mayor for Bristol would only confirm that perception,” said Cllr Peter Hammond the leader of Bristol’s Labour councillors.
“We say local people can be trusted to chose for themselves – anything else is just patronising.
“Whether we follow the usual election round in 2013, or an Elected Mayor ballot, Labour will be ready with a programme for Bristol – offering a clear choice for voters.”
Council leader Barbara Janke has already voiced her opposition to the elected mayor model, while previous Labour Lord mayor Colin Smith last year said the idea was “bad for democracy”.
Campaigner Jaya Chakrabarti said yesterday Labour’s stance gave the impression that the ‘yes’ campaign was gaining strength.
“The Bristol Labour party appears to be playing this cautiously as it’s well known that the government fears them turning the elected mayor debate into a Labour play for power in the core cities,” she told Bristol24-7.
“But it also seems to suggest that Labour are fairly confident about Bristol saying yes at the point of referendum. Let’s hope they’re right!”
It's more like the divided local Labour Party can't even agree a simple policy between themselves.