Plymouth faces its most historic decision in decades today, Thursday 17 July, as residents vote on whether to replace Council Leader Tudor Evans with a directly-elected mayor.
Plymouth Plus has relentlessly investigated the twists and turns of the fiercely contested campaign. Here is everything we have uncovered, revealed, and exposed to help you make an informed decision today.
Our investigative journalism exposed top council officials secretly pressuring government departments to scrap Plymouth’s democratic choice. Bombshell emails, exclusively revealed by Plymouth Plus, detailed how unelected council officers desperately tried to block the referendum. Officials branded your democratic rights an "enormous political distraction" and even volunteered to help draft legislation to bypass your vote.
We revealed how Labour leader Tudor Evans personally discussed scrapping elected mayors with government ministers, sparking serious concerns about coordination between unelected officials and politicians to silence Plymouth voters.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party repeatedly misled residents about the costs of a directly-elected mayor, falsely claiming it would cost taxpayers £1.5 million annually. Plymouth Plus exposed these claims as completely untrue.
Our reporting pulled the curtain back on Labour councillor Chris Cuddihee’s role in the controversial "Plymouth Knows Better" campaign. For weeks, those behind it stayed silent and refused to take ownership. But after a police report was filed, the truth came out of the closet. The Labour group then updated their imprint, finally admitting that Cuddihee was running the campaign all along.
Plymouth Labour faced additional scrutiny after we revealed the shocking attendance records of anti-mayor campaigners and Labour councillors Charlotte Holloway and Chris Cuddihee, raising serious questions about their commitment.
The anti-mayor campaign suffered another blow after El Clarke dropped her endorsement, following Plymouth Plus exposing thousands of pounds in donations from Labour councillors.
When government threats emerged to block a potential "Yes" result, campaign leader Angus Forbes confirmed to Plymouth Plus he would launch a High Court challenge if necessary, ensuring your democratic choice would not be silenced.
Local war hero Mark Ormrod and former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer publicly endorsed the "Yes" campaign, criticising decades of mismanagement and calling for an end to political backroom deals.
Plymouth Plus brought you a surprising double act after Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats formally endorsed he campaign. Meanwhile, independent councillors lined up to endorse the yes campaign, including Steve Ricketts in Drake ward, Patrick Nicholson in Plympton St Mary, Terri Beer in Plympton Erle and Maddi Bridgeman in Moor View.
As polling day approached, Plymouth Plus revealed confusion among voters after misleading claims that the referendum was cancelled, potentially affecting turnout.
Today, Plymouth faces more than a choice of governance. It’s about democracy, transparency, and accountability in our city. Plymouth Plus urges all residents to vote, considering carefully the serious implications uncovered by our investigations.
This historic referendum is your chance to decide if Plymouth should have a directly-elected mayor accountable directly to you, the residents, rather than a council leader potentially influenced by unelected officials behind closed doors.
Polls close at 10 PM tonight. Your vote matters more than ever.
Politics Desk
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