Letter: Signatures for the ‘Mayoral’ Petition Are Still Being Collected

Published on: 5 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 5 Nov, 2015

From J Taylor

I’m an occasional reader of your website and subscribe to Private Eye. I was pleased to see the glowing mention you received in the latest edition of The Eye.

Bearing in mind the subject matter, I was a bit surprised that someone knocked on my door earlier this evening (November 4th) asking if I’d sign a petition demanding Guildford have an elected mayor.

I’m nowhere near as engaged as I should be in local politics but on instinct, based on what I’d read, although I didn’t mention this to the person collecting signatures, I said I wasn’t interested in signing it.

I thought I’d mention it as it struck me you might be interested, although you are already aware this is going on. If there is going to be a concerted effort to put an elected mayor in place I’m sure it would benefit everyone if someone independent could lead the debate on the pros and cons of such an appointment.

The person collecting signatures seemed quite annoyed that I said no and repeated that it will happen as they walked back up the path. Sadly, I wasn’t quick witted enough to ask if they were being paid for each signature collected.

Responses to Letter: Signatures for the ‘Mayoral’ Petition Are Still Being Collected

Jules Cranwell Reply

November 6, 2015 at 8:11 am

Did this person have the dejected look of an former councillor about them?
Jane Milton Reply

November 12, 2015 at 1:27 pm

I had a young person (student?) come to my door with the same petition. When I said no, I didn’t want to sign she asked why not. I said I thought it holding a referendum a waste of money she assured me it wouldn’t cost anything.

I asked how on earth they could do it at no cost she assured me it wouldn’t cost anything as the council will be paying for it! Seriously that is what she said.

I pointed out that, as a council tax payer I would therefore be paying towards it. She looked surprised and said she would go back and ask about that. Clearly too young to be paying council tax.