Cross-party councillors who voted down the idea of a referendum on a directly elected mayor are to be congratulated on resisting this grandiose and premature exercise.

Anthony Seldon does nothing to demonstrate the decision was unwise and in accusing elected representatives of being "undemocratic" he displays the arrogance of which he accuses others.

"I believe in Brighton and Hove and I believe in the people who live in it" comes straight out of the Simon Fanshawe book of words, and while there are a number of personally ambitious men and women with their eyes on this plum, there is absolutely no evidence that allows Dr Seldon to claim they "would help sort out the frustrations, not least those which have constantly dogged our city and prevented it from fulfilling its potential".

-Denis Christian, Chichester Place, Kemp Town, Brighton