The emergence of new political structures such as Elected Mayors and Police Commissioners in England poses new challenges and contradictions for UNISON. In those cities where decisions have been taken to establish Mayors, such as Leicester, Liverpool, London and Salford, the union will be backing the Labour candidate. Elsewhere, in cities such as Manchester and Sheffield, UNISON is actively supporting the NO campaign against the establishment of Elected Mayors, in line with union policy in favour of collective political leadership by elected Councillors. John Harris in the Guardian puts a very strong case for this position:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/09/elected-city-mayors-power-freak-politics
