We agree with the points made by Dr Anthony Seldon in support of a mayoral referendum (Argus, February 17).

We, the overwhelming majority of Labour councillors, voted for a referendum on the issue of a directly elected mayor in the council chamber last Thursday.

It was noticeable that all those who voted against, which included all the Tories, Liberal Democrats and Greens, are those same councillors who accuse the administration of keeping decision-making "behind closed doors".

Soon the Tory "Listening to Britain" campaign comes to town. Why don't the local Tories want to listen to the people of Brighton and Hove?

Our group has not taken a position on the merits or otherwise of a directly elected mayor.

We represent all shades of opinion on this issue and look forward to an open public debate.

But that is not what we were discussing last Thursday; what we were doing was taking a vote on whether to put the matter to the people and seek their opinion in the form of a referendum.

We believe strongly that we should.

-Coun Lynette Gwyn-Jones (Leader of the Labour Group), John Ballance, Simon Battle, Betsy Brewer, Bob Carden, Simon Charleton, Ian Duncan, Andy Durr, Brian Fitch, Tehmtan Framroze, Les Hamilton, Jackie Harding, Pat Hawkes, Alison Hermitage, Sue John, Jeane Lepper, Mike Middleton, Gill Mitchell, John Newington, Roy Pennington, Catherine Shelley, Christine Simpson, Jean Spray, Harry Steer, Don Turner, Betty Walshe, Frieda Warman-Brown and John Warmington (Labour councillors)