The Plymouth Liberal Democrats have announced their support for the proposal to allow the people of Plymouth the opportunity to choose their leader.
They join Reform UK who declared their backing last week. This announcement comes just days after both parties made significant gains in neighbouring Cornwall's local elections.
Local residents will vote on the governance change in a citywide referendum on 17 July.
Hugh Janes, Honorary President of the Plymouth Liberal Democrats, told Plymouth Plus:
"This city desperately needs change - everyone can sense that. We keep seeing the same old faces return, time after time, without ever being chosen by the city as a whole.
"A directly elected mayor would give voters the power to remove a leader who's outstayed their welcome.
"I want to hold someone accountable for what the council does. When Plymouth makes national headlines because the council sends in workers under cover of darkness to chainsaw more than 100 trees, I want a single individual who must answer for that.
"A directly elected mayor gives us that clarity. It's someone who must face the public and the cameras and take responsibility. We need to know where the buck stops - and with a mayor, it stops with them.
"And if we as voters don't like what they do, we can vote them out and choose someone new."
Take our poll: Do you support introducing a directly elected mayor for Plymouth?
Cross-Party Divide Emerging
This latest endorsement means two significant political parties have now publicly backed the mayoral system ahead of the July referendum.
Last week, Reform UK's Plymouth branch announced their support, with a spokesperson telling Plymouth Plus:
"We believe in democracy and the people of Plymouth should be given the opportunity to choose their leader."
Meanwhile, Plymouth Labour have firmly positioned themselves against the proposal, recently launching their "Plymouth Knows Better" campaign from Labour HQ located at Lockyer Hall, Alfred Street, Plymouth PL1 2RP.
The party, which currently controls the council with 42 of 57 seats, is actively campaigning for a "No" vote in the upcoming referendum.
The Plymouth Conservatives have also indicated they will not support the mayoral proposal, though they have yet to formally affiliate themselves with any specific campaign against it.
This positions Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats as the main political voices backing the change, with Labour leading the opposition.
The referendum, triggered by a petition that secured over 10,000 signatures from Plymouth residents, will determine whether the city switches to a directly elected mayor chosen by public vote or maintains the current system where the mayor is selected by elected councillors.
Stuart Bonar, Chair of Plymouth Liberal Democrats, added:
"Our local party won't be campaigning actively in the referendum, but we fully support the proposal.
"The campaign work - the leaflets and door-knocking - is best left to the groups already formed.
We hope that everyone campaigning does so positively, honestly, and with good humour."
Sign up for free below to get notified with all the latest breaking news from Plymouth Plus.
