The people of Brighton and Hove have spoken in overwhelming numbers that they do not wish to have a directly-elected mayor.

All the more surprising, then, that the Voice Of The Argus should castigate one of the country's most complex, thoughtful and forward-thinking electorates.

They have clearly stated they do not wish too much power to be placed in the hands of one individual, recognising that the Yes campaign had been hijacked by those seeking to massage their own egos and reinvigorate flagging political careers.

Brighton and Hove is undoubtedly a place that thrives on celebrity but the electorate have clearly demonstrated their willingness to bloody the noses of those who have become too big for their boots.

They are sick of seeing the likes of Bassam and Caplin take up their grace-and-favour seats in the directors' box at Albion matches without delivering concrete progress on a stadium and could clearly see this kind of wasteful cronyism seeping into other policy areas.

Congratulations to Elgood, Tonks and company on a good, old-fashioned, democratic campaign.

-Jason Martin, Greenfield Crescent, Patcham