Reform UK's Plymouth branch has thrown its support behind the upcoming referendum on establishing a democratically elected mayor for the city.
A spokesperson for the Reform UK Plymouth branch told Plymouth Plus:
“We support the referendum and will shortly be launching our own campaign.
"We believe in democracy and the people of Plymouth should be given the opportunity to choose their leader.”
Their backing comes ahead of a referendum scheduled for 17 July, triggered by a petition that achieved over 10,000 signatures from Plymouth residents.
The referendum will offer the people of Plymouth a choice between switching to a directly elected mayor, chosen by the public or maintaining the current system, where the mayor is indirectly selected by elected councillors.
Angus Forbes, the man behind the Mayor for Plymouth campaign, said:
“It’s not a waste of money, it's Plymouth's greatest opportunity.
"Having a directly elected leader will actually save the city money, to the tune of £250,000 a year.
"Our current system has failed to grow the economy by £30 billion.
"What is the cost of keeping 78,000 Plymothians in poverty for a generation?”
Forbes highlighted potential financial savings, challenging critics who claim a directly elected leader could cost the city £1.5m annually.
He provided evidence suggesting the new system could actually save Plymouth around £250,000 a year, achieved through salary adjustments, reducing the council cabinet, and shifting to a four-year election cycle.
Forbes cited similar cost-saving experiences from other mayor-led councils such as Leicester, Watford, and Bradford.
The campaign also underscores the broader economic benefits of direct democracy, stressing the need to address Plymouth's longstanding issues, including low wages and economic stagnation.
According to campaigners, Plymouth has missed out on billions in potential growth under the existing leadership structure.
Angus Forbes added:
"We anticipate 10 strong candidates at the first election in May 2026 - given the talent that is in this city.
"We have the four main employment base centres: that of the armed
forces, the hospital, the university, and manufacturing who produce excellent leaders year in, year out, who will stand up to lead the city."
Plymouth residents will have the final say at the ballot box this July, determining whether the city's leadership continues under the traditional model or embraces a new, direct democratic future.
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