NEWCASTLE MP Nick Brown yesterday cautioned those who would like to see a powerful elected mayor running Newcastle by raising the spectre of T Dan Smith.

The Government and supporters of directly elected mayors in England’s biggest cities say there is clear evidence that they offer strong leadership, boosting the local economy and accountability.

But former Labour minister Nick Brown yesterday offered a cautionary tale on strong leadership to a Parliamentary committee considering an order to confirm the May 3 referendum on whether to have an elected mayor in Newcastle.

The Newcastle East MP said: “Mr T Dan Smith was a strong leader of the city of Newcastle and he was an influential figure in local government more widely than just Newcastle.

“So I just gently make the point to the committee that strong leadership can be a mixed blessing. He wasn’t without his opponents within the Labour group at the time. And certainly on the Conservative group which was the principal opposition group at that time.

“But he was a formidable man. He liked to get his own way as these people in my experience often do.”

Mr Brown claimed that many council houses built under Mr Smith’s administration had to be pulled down, adding: “Indeed, the worst of it I had the great pleasure of demolishing when I was first elected to represent the people of the East End of Newcastle in 1983.

“He left us with a road network where the junctions filtered into each other. Arguably it was right by the standards of the time, and I think even that is arguable.

“But it’s certainly showing its age now with both congestion and the junctions are I think not suitable for the modern age.”

And the Labour MP said old historical buildings had been demolished under Mr Smith to build the Brasilia of the North out of concrete.

“I just caution about putting one’s faith in strong leadership alone,” said Mr Brown, who suggested the current structure of councillors was a better model to avoid potential problems. If you fear that a strong-willed well-motivated leader is doing something that isn’t appropriate, by far and away the best test of that is to see if his or her colleagues will agree to it and to make sure that the big issues are being discussed transparently.”

He also said it was important to ensure other councillors were able to provide an effective check and balance.

Communities and Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell said the Government was giving the people the choice over whether to have an elected mayor or not.

Referring to Mr Brown’s comments, the Liberal Democrat minister added: “I think he analysed the problems of strong leadership very well. But he did it with a rather strange example, that of T Dan Smith who, of course, was a strong leader under the cabinet model and not, in fact, a mayor.

“So I don’t think the problems of strong leadership are either worsened or improved by those two governance models.”

Hexham MP Guy Opperman offered strong support for a switch to an elected mayor, saying: “I am an unashamed fan of mayors.

“And I believe in democracy. And I believe that mayors will be a genuine driver of change.”

The Conservative MP said the London mayoralty, headed by Ken Livingstone and now Boris Johnson, had been a success – as well as their counterparts in America and Europe.

“I believe very strongly that every city does need a mayor of similar clout, able to knock heads together and to push things forward on a public, private and voluntary and charity sector basis and sell their city abroad,” said Mr Opperman.

The referendum order was passed by the committee, meaning residents are now on course to be asked about their views on May 3 – along with polls in other major English cities.

If approved, mayoral elections will take place on November 15.

MP proposes department switch

PROPOSALS to relocate key Government departments to cities outside of London – including Newcastle – were yesterday put forward by a Labour MP.

John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, tabled eight separate Bills that would see the Department for International Development move to Newcastle with other Whitehall departmental headquarters switching to other cities.

The Government could help rebalance the economy by beginning to level a playing field heavily weighted in favour of London and the South East, said the Labour MP.

He added the move would remove pressure from the overheated London economy, save money spent paying employees a London allowance, bring jobs to areas hardest hit by the recession and give ministers a more rounded perspective when drawing up policies.

“This is part of twenty alternative budget deficit proposals I am making in Parliament as an alternative to the Conservatives’ cuts in front line services,” said Mr Mann.