Edinburgh needs an elected provost

5 September 2011

The Edinburgh tram project provided yet more twists and turns last week. Amidst these astonishing scenes, CSPP policy director Ross Martin argued in the Scotsman that:

"A directly elected leader in Edinburgh would have ensured that the capital's tram project was completed long ago."

"In the great European cities I visited this summer, from Barcelona to Venice, from Dubrovnik to London, an elected mayor, call them provosts in Scotland if you please, drives the development and regeneration of their cities."

The Centre has long argued for Scotland's core cities to pilot directly elected provosts, an argument that for too long fell on deaf ears.

Such a position, however, appears to be changing in light of recent events. Respected commentator Iain Macwhirter launched into the debate saying:

"Local government is dying in Scotland, as turnout falls and central government increasingly... tells councils what to do. The only thing that will keep [them] alive is democratic engagement... so let's give it to them."