“The fact is SPS will always court controversy because he belongs to a political party that has always adopted a 'Spend, Spend, Spend' attitude when in Office. We've seen it at national level and look what it did, resigned this country and future generations to the biggest peace-time deficit ever and years of austerity.

The sooner the good folk of Leicester wake up and realise what is happening in their own backyard the better!!”

“Take a leaf out of the mayor of Doncaster, English Democrat Peter Davies. Save the tax payers of Doncaster plenty of cash.”

“We do not know the full facts behind these issues you have brought up Gary. He (SPS) is on good money and has a team behind him to support and advise him. There is also a lot of politics we would not know about that are factors to why they make certain decisions. It is not always black & white! Being a Mayor of a city such as Leicester has its problems as it is a very diverse multicultural city etc.”

“And why shouldn't we know about the "politics", after all he has promised transparency on more than one occasion. Things may not always be "black and white" but all the electorate deserve openness and honesty and decisions being made for the good of the city and it's citizens not for political oneupmanship.”

“It's no surprise that the council has to deal with contentious issues. The Mayor is the nominal head of the council, and thus is a lightning rod for criticism regarding these issues. He's paid well Because he's the one that takes the rap.

In the same way a school Head Teacher is well paid as they're ultimately responsible for what happens in the school.”

“I agree Eastonian about the benefits being for the city but have you ever known (or know) of an honest MP before? What manifesto has ever been kept in the past etc? As I said the 'politics' will always demonise decision making... I am not saying that is right but saying how it is or appears to be...”

“A Headteacher makes the rules in a school f007e. But they have to work within the rules set by the government unless it is an academy where the rules would be a bit different. Like a football manager they pick the team and take the responsibility hense why some keep their job or gain the sack! Big jobs = big pressures but also can be very rewarding with pay two sides as always..”

“I have little faith in most politicians, seeing them either as self serving or slaves to party political dogma rather than true representatives of the people and for so much power to be in the hands of one person does not sit well with me.
My own view is that Peter Soulsby is very well paid and extremely powerful locally, but just not very good.
There always appears an overwhelming amount of critcism of him whenever he, or an article about him appears in the Mercury.
It would take a petition signed by only 5% of the electorate to force the council to hold a referendum on the position of mayor”

“City_10, we're not talking about an MP here. SPS is the 'Elected Mayor' a position slightly different than that of an MP. And yes I do expect him to open, honest, trustworthy and transparent, why not?!!

I appreciate as a former MP he like most of them want to run with the fox and hunt with the hounds in order to attempt to win friends on both sides of any argument. Well, life isn't like that as someone great and famous once said; "You can't please all of the people all of the time".”

“* And now a Mayor”

“Peter Soulsby is a Labour party Mayor not a free vote by a referendum Mayor, Nottingham had a free vote about the Mayor they have we did not; he is a job for the boys Mayor and always will be until a proper vote on this matter is taken.
Nearly everything this man gets involved with costs us the Tax payers Including his wage packet the old Haymarket the flop market redesign and now he wants to waste 20 Million on a square no one wants, but we do want the roads putting right, i.e. all the holes filling re covering will it happen o no lets waste money on a square instead, we have a waste full council and a Mayor to go with it.”

“In answer to the original question, I suggest not very good in terms of decisions made. At least with these you can say he is not trying to buy votes”

“He will need votes when he comes up for re-election in 2015. No certsainty he will get nearly 50% as in the last election”

“gary b...your question puts the issues in the past tense.We still have all the issues mentioned,apart from count von counts pay rise.
Surely the question should be"Why was Leicester so unlucky to get a load of pocket stuffers to con us into thinking they would represent us.When in fact they represent each other.
Copied.”

“The City Mayor is only in the news when it seems he is not doing what someone wants or doing what seems to be a waste of money. Come on give him a chance judge him on his results when you vote next but watch the city centre get better.”

“People who aspire to High Office can expect brickbats as well as bouquets throughout their tenure, that is part of political life. Why should SPS or anyone else for that matter have an "easy ride" when the decisions they are making are not always good for the community they serve?

It is also a matter of 'Lest we forget'. By all means vote these people out of Office at the next Election or vote to keep them in but why shouldn't they be told when things go wrong as they happen rather than wait until voting time comes?”

“We need to remember that this labour council sneaked the "elected mayor" situation through with approximately only 460 odd people actually being aware of the proposal. It was a 'job for the boys' from the very start-no wonder his "pay rise" was soon on the agenda!
We need to be saving money where-ever we can yet this fool wanted to spend somewhere around £4m on some crackpot 'Jubilee Gardens' scheme-just because the Queen came here! Big whup, the Queen would surely be more impressed if the fool SAVED £4m instead!”

“Transparent pete is a joke.I still await someone to say he is good for Leicester,apart from his paypacket nodding donkey Muppets.
Have a look at his open debate on petes gipsy sites.Only 36 people able to attend.Just a con act.Surrounded by nose picking,scratching,just awake Muppets.
hhhtp:/tinyurl.com/8g5z6nd
Just see what we are paying for !
Ask the residents of Birstall[not in the City]what they think of him and his MUPPETS.
Ask the residents of Thurnby Lodge about his MUPPETS plans for the"hut"
Ask Market Traders.
Ask anyone who wants to do a quick trip into the City and has no where to park.
Ask anyone who has tripped/fallen on the wonderfull paving in Humberstone Gate.
Ask the residents of Westcotes.
Ask traders in Braunstone Gate and Melton Road who objected to Tesco stores,as well as to the demolition of the bridge and pub to facilitate a pool for the sacred dmu.”

“c10 "have you ever known (or know) of an honest MP before?"

if that isn't a leading question for libel I don't know what is,

To answer it without naming every living politician as honest except where convicted of dishonesty would be like leading a lamb to the slaughter.

Are you saying the "All" politicians are dishonest then?”

“Can we just settle for the term "useless"?As much use as a chocolate teapot.”

“This blog makes some interesting reading.......
http://tinyurl.com/958ne64”

“Interesting article, leicestermale, so the question that needs to be asked and answered is; Why does Leicester keep on voting Labour at election time whether it's for MPs who represent the constituencies of the City in Parliament or Councillors who represent the wards at the City Council?

The answer is apathy. It reigns in abundance at election time simply because folk either can't be bothered or forget or don't know what is going on in their City or district. And why is that? The answer is political laziness and ineptitude and whilst this malaise is prominent, sadly, the City of Leicester will continue as it is.”

“Once a ****** ,always a ****** !”

“T O S S E R”