Now the Local Government Bill has passed through Parliament a directly elected mayor for Brighton and Hove is on the agenda.

Labour locally has provided not just good governance and leadership, but also vision and sense of purpose to local government. It is for that reason we have a booming local economy.

To my Labour colleagues I say this: "Let's now get to the fore in arguing for a directly elected mayor, let us lead as we have historically led and let Labour get their first."

-Lord Steve Bassam, Leader Brighton Council 1987-96, Leader Brighton and Hove 1996-99