The leaders of the Yes campaign did not have the courage to face defeat when the count on the mayoral referendum was conducted.

The absence of Bassam, Bodfish, Fanshawe and local hero Roger French did nothing but destroy what credibility they may have had left.

This exercise has been a total waste of public money. With Brighton and Hove City Council already predicting an overspend of at least £4.6 million, the spending of £200,000 on a mayoral referendum is obscene.

Ken Bodfish, having failed to deliver a Yes vote to Tony Blair, should do the honourable thing and resign as leader of the council, along with the rest of his cabinet.

-Coun Ted Kemble, Westbourne ward