A Plymouth Plus investigation has uncovered that two of Plymouth's MPs - Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas (both Labour) - have been spreading inaccurate claims that the UK government is wholesale "scrapping" the city mayor model across England - despite no official evidence supporting these assertions.
Two MPs and Councillors Caught Spreading Misinformation
Our investigation reveals that two of Plymouth's MPs - Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas (both Labour) - along with Labour councillors, have been telling constituents that the government has a policy to eliminate city mayors, when no such widespread announcements or official statements exist from Whitehall.
It would appear to be a deliberate attempt to influence Plymouth's upcoming mayoral referendum through the spread of unsubstantiated claims about national government policy.
In a display of absolute desperation, Councillor Tudor Evans shared the misleading claims over 25 times in less than five hours, flooding social media with misinformation in a frantic attempt to sway public opinion.
Screen recording showing Councillor Tudor Evans repeatedly sharing a post claiming city mayors are being "scrapped".
Plymouth Plus Uncovers the Truth About Government Policy
Plymouth Plus investigations have uncovered that whilst the Government is ending mayoral devolution for individual councils, it is not banning directly elected mayors created pursuant to the Local Government Act 2000. The Mayor for Plymouth campaign accurately points out that Plymouth's referendum is about choosing a leadership model, not securing a devolution deal.
Councillors and MPs suggesting the role is being scrapped are misrepresenting the Government's policy, which actually supports expanding regional mayors, not reducing the number of city mayors.
Conservative MP Seeks Clarity While Labour Spreads Misinformation
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Rebecca Smith recently asked the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to chapter 2, section 9D of the Local Government Act 2000 of her Department's English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what powers a directly elected (a) mayor and (b) leader would have.
The response was exactly the same as previously given, providing no new clarity. Conservative MP Rebecca Smith later commented on a Facebook post on the Mayor for Plymouth page that she was still "trying to ascertain what the government were actually planning. This answer doesn't tell me, I shall be asking some more direct questions."
Misinformation Campaign Continues Despite Uncertainty
Yet Plymouth Labour councillors (with the support of MPs Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas) are the driving force behind the anti-mayor "Plymouth Knows Better" campaign and they have continued to spread misinformation about the government's supposed plans to "scrap" mayors.
White Paper Misrepresented
Plymouth Labour’s councillors and MPs appear to be misinterpreting the government's devolution white paper, which focuses on strengthening regional "metro mayors" who oversee combined authorities covering multiple councils. The white paper does not announce a wholesale scrapping of individual council mayors like the one Plymouth residents will vote on.
While some sources suggest the white paper indicates a preference for traditional leader and cabinet models in new unitary councils, this falls far short of the dramatic "scrapping" claims being made by Luke Pollard, Fred Thomas, and Labour councillors.
No Evidence for "Scrapping" Claims
Despite extensive research, Plymouth Plus has found no official government announcements or policy documents declaring an intention to abolish the city mayor model across England. The MPs' claims appear to be based on speculation and misinterpretation rather than fact.
The white paper actually shows the government continues to support mayoral models where appropriate, particularly for strategic regional roles. Devolution deals continue to be negotiated nationwide, often involving directly elected mayors.
Two Different Types of Mayor
The confusion appears deliberate, conflating two different types of elected mayor. The government is actively promoting regional "metro mayors" like those in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands as part of its "Devolution Revolution."
However, Plymouth MPs Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas are using discussions about streamlining individual council mayors to falsely claim the entire mayoral concept is being abandoned by government.
Damaging Democratic Debate
One Plymouth Plus reader wrote in and said,
“The spread of these false claims by MPs Luke Pollard, Fred Thomas, and Labour councillors is particularly damaging as it undermines informed democratic debate ahead of the July referendum. Voters deserve accurate information from their elected representatives, not politically motivated misinformation based on misreadings of government policy.”
Local Changes Misrepresented as National Policy
While some individual councils like Bristol and Liverpool no longer have their mayoral systems, Plymouth's MPs appear to be misrepresenting these isolated local decisions as evidence of a systematic government campaign to eliminate mayors entirely. Mayors can either be removed by councillors or voters through a referendum.
This represents a serious mischaracterisation of the democratic process, where local authorities make their own governance choices rather than following central government ruling.
Undermining Plymouth's Democratic Choice
By spreading these unfounded claims about the white paper's intentions, Luke Pollard, Fred Thomas, and Labour councillors are effectively telling Plymouth voters that their upcoming referendum is meaningless because the government will supposedly scrap mayors anyway. This undermines the entire democratic process and voters' right to make an informed choice.
The fact that Conservative MP Rebecca Smith is responsibly seeking clarity through proper parliamentary channels makes the Labour politicians' spreading of definitive but unfounded claims even more problematic.
Truth Matters in Democracy
Plymouth Plus research shows the reality is far more nuanced than Luke Pollard's and Fred Thomas's simplistic claims suggest. The devolution white paper focuses on regional governance structures and does not announce the wholesale elimination of city mayors that Plymouth's Labour representatives claim.
Our investigations confirm that the government's policy actually supports the expansion of regional mayors while maintaining the option for councils to choose directly elected mayors under existing legislation. The misrepresentation of this policy by Plymouth's Labour politicians appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead voters.
Voters Deserve Better
Plymouth residents approaching their referendum on 17th July deserve accurate information from their parliamentary representatives, not politically convenient falsehoods designed to influence the outcome based on misrepresentations of government policy documents.
The referendum remains what it was always intended to be - Plymouth's genuine opportunity to decide its own democratic future, regardless of what its MPs might falsely claim about the devolution white paper.
Sign up for free below to get notified with all the latest breaking news from Plymouth Plus.
