By Bagehot
A WHILE back, debate gripped David Cameron’s inner circle, on the subject of how to persuade a sceptical British public to embrace elected city mayors. A rather abstruse ambition to outsiders, the creation of elected mayors in towns and cities across Britain has been a gleam in the eye of those close to the prime minister since their days in opposition.
Those insiders have had a rough day, with nine out of ten cities that were holding referendums on whether to move to an elected mayor rejecting the idea. Manchester, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Wakefield, Coventry, Leeds and Bradford voted No.
