Three reasons why I won’t be voting

DEAR Editor, Life is full of surprises. Not least that the Conservative and Labour candidates are neck and neck in the battle to become the first mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority ( Post, April 20). I would have thought that the Conservative candidate would be streets ahead at this stage.

That said, it does not surprise me that about 40 per cent of readers surveyed have revealed they will not vote. I will not be voting on three counts. First, I am not convinced a mayor will make much difference to the operational and needs of the West Midlands.

Secondly, I believe the position of mayor should be completely independent of political parties and persuasions.

Finally, I am not voting to have something foisted on me, as there clearly was no appetite for a mayor at the last vote.

In time I can foresee the mayor taking over the councils or at least being absorbed into a new organisation led by the mayor, hence the national Government substantially reducing Birmingham City Council’s budgets.

It will be only a matter of time before we end up with another bureaucratic organisation.

Mike Butler, Wylde Green