West Country (E) Politics

It is only two-and-a-half years since people in Bristol voted to have an elected mayor run the city. But now councillors are expected to approve a resolution which could pave the way for another referendum - on whether to abolish the post.

They say the legislation which prevents a further ballot is undemocratic and should be changed, as our political correspondent Bob Constantine reports.

What does the current elected mayor George Ferguson have to say about this?

The Chancellor, George Osborne, has been continuing his visit to the region by touring an engineering factory in Bath. He went to the production line at Rotork, which employs more than 300 people and exports industrial equipment around the world.

He highlighted Bath's traffic problems as an issue that could hold back the local economy.

The Conservative MP for North Dorset has announced he won't be seeking re-election at the 2015 general election.

Bob Walter, who is 66, says he wants a younger Conservative Party member to represent the constituency. He was elected to the seat in 1997 and has served for 17 years.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans for a total overhaul of the "badly-designed" stamp duty system paid on the purchases of homes.

The reform will mean new marginal rates that the Chancellor says will mean a stamp duty cut for 98% of homebuyers.

• No tax on first £125,000 paid
• 2% on the portion up to £250,000
• 5% up to £925,000
• 10% up to £1.5 million
• 12% on everything over that

Air Passenger Duty will be scrapped for all children by 2016, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.

"We’re going to require airlines to list the charges separately from taxes on tickets, but I also want to reduce the cost of those tickets for families directly.

"From the 1st May next year, Air Passenger Duty for children under 12 will be abolished. From the following year, we’ll get rid of APD for children under 16 altogether."

ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi tweeted: "Birmingham family with 2 young children welcomes cut in air passenger duty."

"They will save £170 on planned flight to Dubai."

There are growing fears that the European Commission is delaying the building of a new power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. It's still to sign off all the building regulations surrounding the project.

Today Labour south west MEP Claire Moody will meet the Commission to try to speed up the process.

As part of the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor is to announce VAT refunds for Search and Rescue and Air Ambulance charities alongside £7.5 million extra support for air ambulances.

The VAT refunds will be worth £25 million over 5 years.

It is in response to the service the UK’s Search and Rescue and Air Ambulance charities provide, volunteering their time and expertise to support to emergency services.

At the moment, most Search and Rescue and Air Ambulance charities cannot claim VAT back on their search and rescue activities but this means they will all be able to apply for VAT refunds for them as of 1 April 2015.

The Chancellor is also due to announce £1m for Great Western Air Ambulance, which will pay for the new helicopter's running costs in its first year of operation.

The Prime Minister David Cameron visited Stonehenge this afternoon to talk about the Government's plans to spend £15bn on upgrading the country's road network. It includes making the A303 and A30 dual carriageways. He spoke to our Political Correspondent Bob Constantine.