Leaving aside the arguments for and against a directly-elected mayor, I was delighted the heavily-weighted Yes campaign with all its propaganda and finance lost out to the wishes of the majority.

The British people are slow to anger but, once they get the bit between their teeth, they can be awesome in their resolve and determination, as many have discovered in the past.

In the words of our politicians "there are lessons to be learnt".

My real reason for rejoicing, however, is that I will be able to enjoy The Argus with my evening meal again without having my digestion ruined by yet another picture of Lord Bassam.

There surely cannot be any reader of this otherwise excellent newspaper who is still unfamiliar with his features.

If there are one or two left, perhaps they could cut one of his photographs out of a large selection of back issues and stick it on their mantelpiece.

Please give the rest of us a break.

-William Corkerton, Small Dole