I am appalled that an oddball alliance is trying to deny the right of local people to have their say on whether or not our new city should have a directly elected mayor.
This attempt to scupper democracy takes me back almost 20 years to Margaret Thatcher's arrogant imposition of the council tax.
It should not be up to local councillors to say no to the idea of an elected mayor.
The Labour administration has said the people should decide, in a referendum. That is also the view of the Government. What could be more democratic than that? After all, Brighton and Hove Council had a referendum on the future of the Albion.
-Lord Bassam of Brighton, House of Lords
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