Plymouth councillors have today agreed to hold a referendum on creating a directly elected Mayor.
The decision follows the successful verification of 10,856 petition signatures which met the threshold needed to trigger a public vote under national rules.
The referendum will be held on Thursday 17 July 2025 and residents will decide whether councillors choose the leader, or if a directly elected Mayor is chosen by the people of Plymouth.
Campaigners behind the Mayor for Plymouth campaign say the existing system has failed the city for 26 years, costing Plymouth £4.6 billion a year in lost GDP.
They believe a directly elected Mayor would bring stronger leadership, unlock investment, and offer more accountability to residents.
Angus Forbes, who leads the campaign, says Plymouth needs a leader with vision to grow the economy, raise wages, attract businesses and lift thousands of residents out of poverty.
Supporters also highlight that the change could save Plymouth more than £250,000 a year by reducing the size of the council Cabinet and introducing a four year election cycle.
At the referendum, voters will be asked whether they want Plymouth City Council to change from a leader model to a directly elected Mayor model.
If the referendum is successful, any eligible resident could stand to become the Mayor, opening the leadership role to a wider range of talent from across the city.
Important dates for voters:
- Register to vote by 1 July 2025
- Apply for a postal vote by 5pm on 2 July 2025
- Apply for a voter authority certificate by 5pm on 9 July 2025
- Apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on 9 July 2025
Voting will be available in person at polling stations, by post or by proxy. Photo ID will be required to vote in person.
Following today’s council agreement, the Notice of Poll is expected to shortly be published to formally confirm the arrangements for this landmark vote.
You can find out more on election on the Plymouth City Council website here.
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