Elected Mayors: The Big Debate, in association with the Leicester Mercury

De Montfort University (DMU) is to host The Big Debate so voters in Leicester can quiz candidates hoping to make history by becoming England’s first city mayor to be directly elected by the citizens.

De Montfort University (DMU) is to host The Big Debate so voters in Leicester can quiz candidates hoping to make history by becoming England’s first city mayor to be directly elected by the citizens.

Leicester is the first city in England (outside of London which has different administration rules) where the council has decided to opt for a directly elected mayor, giving voters the choice of who runs the city.

DMU, which has carried out leading research in both public administration and local politics, is staging the debate, entitled Elected Mayors: The Big Debate, in association with the Leicester Mercury.

Vice-chancellor of DMU, Professor Dominic Shellard, will chair the debate involving all nominated candidates on campus at 6.30pm on 18 April.

DMU is keen to encourage public engagement in the elections and Colin Copus, DMU’s Professor of Local Politics, said: “Encouraging voters to make the most of their chance to make a difference is vital for democracy and this mayoral election is history in the making.

“The Government has earmarked 12 of England’s big cities to be run by a directly elected mayor but Leicester hasn’t waited to be told and is leading the pack.

“After consulting with the public, the council decided it was right for all the voters of Leicester to decide which person should run the council so it is a pioneering city when it comes to this new style of local government.

“The election will mean that Leicester will be the first of England’s big cities outside London to be run by a person chosen by all the voters.”

City residents wanting to attend the event in the university’s Hugh Aston building, at 6.30pm, on Monday 18 April, should register their expression of interest by emailing DMU Events Office on eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk or by telephoning 0116 257 7452.

Nominations for the elected mayor will close on 4 April and the election will be held on 5 May.

Perry Holmes, returning officer for the city council elections in May, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for local electors to come along and ask questions of the people who want to lead this city for the next few years."

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