The Liberal Democrats have warned councils could be bullied by the Government into taking directly-elected mayors. Responding to last week's NLGN report on directly-elected mayors, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman, Julia Goldsworthy, said ‘the underlying problem is the Government's unwillingness to let go of power'. ‘A mayor must not become a bargaining chip in the fight for devolution to local communities,' said Ms Goldsworthy. ‘Councils could be bullied into accepting a mayor in return for small concessions on health and police powers. ‘Central imposition defies the whole purpose of an elected mayor,' she added. ‘We need to see clear and demonstrable demand from local people first.'
