There has been a lot of froth, nonsense and unpleasantness in the campaign of the vested interests opposed to a city mayor.

The ludicrous alliance that is the anti-mayor brigade has not answered one basic question.

How, in the name of all reason, is it more democratic to have the leader of our city chosen behind closed doors by fewer than 40 councillors (30, after 2003) rather than offering the choice to all of our adult citizens?

Why are the opponents of a mayor so afraid to let everyone have their say?

Even if we put aside all the other arguments in favour of an elected mayor (fast decisions, accountability, city-wide approval, ability to talk to the wider community), surely on the grounds of our belief in democracy we must vote Yes.

The ballot papers are coming through our letterboxes. Let's vote to be able to choose a leader the whole city supports rather than going back to the fudges and fixes that have so often brought local government into such disrepute.

Let's vote for a city mayor openly elected and democratically chosen by 150,000 people rather than a city boss fixed up by 40.

-Ian Duncan, Brighton and Hove City Council