WITH the intent of providing local people with 'more say' in local affairs, the Westminster Government held a referendum in various cities to see if the people wanted an elected mayor as London has.

In most cases, the result was a resounding no.

In spite of this, Manchester is to have an elected mayor. We will thus soon have another costly layer of government.

Does this set a precedent whereby the Westminster Government can ignore the will of the people, particularly bearing mind there may be another referendum (concerning Europe) in the future?

On a political note, the Conservatives abolished the large city councils some time ago, only to have their function resurrected by this move.

On a cynical note, is this a cunning move by the Westminster Government to inhibit the formation of large and powerful local authorities, (eg the North West, Tyneside, Midlands, South West etc.) on the basis of 'divide and rule'?

KB Attenborough, Altrincham