This is no less than a vote for Bristol's future.

(From Bristol Evening Post)

Charlotte Leslie, the MP for Bristol North West, tells Post readers why she thinks they should vote for change DO you think Bristol politics needs a shake-up? Are you fed up with party politics getting in the way of common sense? This Thursday, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to change that: To vote YES for an elected mayor.

People from all political parties, and none, are saying that Bristol needs the decisive, strategic leadership of a mayor, including the business community - the people who create the city's jobs.

Bristol is a great city; internationally known for our creative industry; business centre and port. But anyone who loves Bristol like I do knows we can be doing so much more.

Why is it that when Bob Dylan (I'm a fan) comes to the south west, he goes to Cardiff ? Why do Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, even Bournemouth, host major party-conferences, and not Bristol? And we've been fighting for years for the kind of local rail system cities like Newcastle take for granted.

All this left undone, whilst the city watches a merry-go-round of council leaders flash in and out of the Council house: six in just ten years - Barbara Janke being the latest departure.

How can you get long-term vision this way? Result? Many decisions are taken by unelected …