Mark Meredith
Encyclopedia
Mark Joseph Meredith was the second and last directly elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent in England. An openly gay man and former amateur boxer he was elected on 5 May 2005, for the Labour Party
, and defeated incumbent independent Mike Wolfe. In March 2009, Meredith was arrested on suspicion of corruption in office
, but was never charged. He is now a Councillor for the Birches Head and Central Forest Park ward in Stoke-on-Trent, in addition to running his own business, Apollo Blinds.
(LPYS) prior to its disbandment at the 1987 Labour Party Conference. He also worked for several years during this time as a youth organiser for the Militant tendency
. A local businessman in the Stoke-on-Trent town of Hanley since 1991, he was selected as the Mayoral Labour candidate in December 2004, defeating four others to win the Labour nomination.
candidate Roger Ibbs in second place, Mike Wolfe (independent), a BNP
candidate and three other non-aligned independents
.
In July 2007, Meredith formed a de-facto executive model for Stoke-on-Trent City Council of Mayor and Cabinet in all but name. This first move away from the Mayor and Council Manager model (the only one of its kind in England) was generally welcomed by most political groups represented on the Council. The Council Executive was represented in its number from all three main political parties, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats.
The referendum question was: "Are you in favour of the proposal for Stoke-on-Trent City Council to be run in a new way, which includes a councillor, who will be elected by the councillors of Stoke-on-Trent to lead the council and the community which it serves?"
The turnout was 19.23%. The result of the referendum was put into place on 5 June 2009 when Meredith's term of office ended, and the City Council elected a Council Leader, Conservative Ross Irving, to replace him.
. High ranking local Conservative Party
councillor Roger Ibbs was also arrested a week earlier on the same charge. The police inquiry was focused on the city council's attempts to close the splash pool at Dimensions Leisure Centre, in Burslem
, the previous year. He resigned all of his political positions on 8 March 2009 with the investigation ongoing.
On 7 July 2009, Staffordshire Police announced that no further proceedings in the case were being made and that all charges against Ibbs were being dropped; Meredith having never been formally charged. They disclosed that there was insufficient evidence to support any case for corruption against any of the men involved.
's central government
. A dual seat ward, he topped the polls with 1,145 votes (25.92%), with unaffiliated candidate Paul Breeze also being elected.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, and defeated incumbent independent Mike Wolfe. In March 2009, Meredith was arrested on suspicion of corruption in office
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, but was never charged. He is now a Councillor for the Birches Head and Central Forest Park ward in Stoke-on-Trent, in addition to running his own business, Apollo Blinds.
Political career
A member of the Labour Party since 1982, Meredith held posts at various levels of the Labour Party, including time as a member of the national committee, representing the West Midlands, of the Labour Party's youth section, the Labour Party Young SocialistsLabour Party Young Socialists
The Labour Party Young Socialists was the name of the youth section of the British Labour Party from 1965 until 1993. The LPYS was the most successful of the youth sections of the Labour Party in the post war period, at one point having nearly 600 branches and attendances at its national...
(LPYS) prior to its disbandment at the 1987 Labour Party Conference. He also worked for several years during this time as a youth organiser for the Militant tendency
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
. A local businessman in the Stoke-on-Trent town of Hanley since 1991, he was selected as the Mayoral Labour candidate in December 2004, defeating four others to win the Labour nomination.
2005 Mayoral election
In the mayoral election of 5 May 2005, Meredith polled ahead of the ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate Roger Ibbs in second place, Mike Wolfe (independent), a BNP
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
candidate and three other non-aligned independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
.
Time as Mayor
He concentrated much of his efforts to bringing the City Council's long-term financial deficits under control.In July 2007, Meredith formed a de-facto executive model for Stoke-on-Trent City Council of Mayor and Cabinet in all but name. This first move away from the Mayor and Council Manager model (the only one of its kind in England) was generally welcomed by most political groups represented on the Council. The Council Executive was represented in its number from all three main political parties, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats.
October 2008 referendum
Stoke's second referendum was held after the government withdrew the option of 'Elected Mayor and Manager' executive arrangement. Democracy4Stoke campaigned ‘yes’: to replace the system with a ‘Council Leader and Cabinet’ system. ‘People’s Choice’ campaigned for a ‘no’ vote, i.e. for an ‘Elected Mayor and Cabinet’. After the referendum on 23 October 2008 the position of Elected Mayor in Stoke was abolished after a vote of 21,231 for 'Yes' (a council leader and cabinet), and 14,592 for 'No' (a mayor and cabinet system).The referendum question was: "Are you in favour of the proposal for Stoke-on-Trent City Council to be run in a new way, which includes a councillor, who will be elected by the councillors of Stoke-on-Trent to lead the council and the community which it serves?"
The turnout was 19.23%. The result of the referendum was put into place on 5 June 2009 when Meredith's term of office ended, and the City Council elected a Council Leader, Conservative Ross Irving, to replace him.
Arrest
On 6 March 2009, Meredith was arrested on suspicion of corruption in officePolitical corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. High ranking local Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillor Roger Ibbs was also arrested a week earlier on the same charge. The police inquiry was focused on the city council's attempts to close the splash pool at Dimensions Leisure Centre, in Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, the previous year. He resigned all of his political positions on 8 March 2009 with the investigation ongoing.
On 7 July 2009, Staffordshire Police announced that no further proceedings in the case were being made and that all charges against Ibbs were being dropped; Meredith having never been formally charged. They disclosed that there was insufficient evidence to support any case for corruption against any of the men involved.
Return to politics
Meredith ran for election in the council ward of Birches Head and Central Forest Park, motivated by the cutbacks announced by David CameronDavid Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's central government
United Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
. A dual seat ward, he topped the polls with 1,145 votes (25.92%), with unaffiliated candidate Paul Breeze also being elected.