D for Davies, D for Doncaster and, above all, D for democracy. Let no-one be surprised at the outcome (of the mayoral election], because the winner was the one candidate that promised to deliverwhat people have been wanting for some time.
Labour did not pick up the mood. Its former divine right to rule in Doncaster seems to have resulted in them treating the crucial activity of listening to what people want as at best a PR exercise and at worst a patronising 'we know better'.
The T
ories made much of wanting to listen but clearly missed the real message by some way.
Even Mick Maye, who must be as close to the pulse of Doncaster as anyone, failed to spot or capitalise on the desire for fundamental change.
Love it or loathe it, it is the elected mayoral system that has given Doncaster the chance to express what it wants in a way that would be impossible under the council election system.
We now want to see if it can accomplish the programme people have voted for.
So if last Friday was a D for democracy day, the future is all about D for delivery - Peter Davies, the council and council employees have a clear mandate to get to work and deliver that programme of change.
In their current mood I sense the people of Doncaster will not take
failure lightly.
RW Metcalfe
Fenwick
Doncaster