In December 2010 the Labour controlled Leicester City Council approved plans to give the city a directly elected mayor with responsibility for all council decisions during their four-year term and for selecting up to nine councillors as a supporting cabinet in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2007.

The creation of the post was approved by the City Council on 10 December 2010.

A referendum on establishing a directly elected mayoralty was not held.

[2] Soulsby won re-election in 2015, again polling more than half the first preference vote to win on the first round.

Again, Soulsby won re-election in 2019, retaining his position as City Mayor for a third term, with an increased majority.