Liverpool could be the next city to have a directly-elected mayor, as campaigners push for a poll next year. The ‘Mayor-for-Liverpool Campaign' needs 17,100 signatures on a petition from city voters to spark an official referendum. Campaigners have already got signatures running into four figures, but plan to drop 90,000 leaflets in key areas during the local council campaign to drum up more support. Broadcaster Liam Fogarty has taken leave of absence from BBC Radio Merseyside to lead the campaign. He told the Liverpool Daily Post: ‘We are confident of exceeding the target for signatures. We could go through a verification process as early as autumn, and vote for an elected mayor in May 2007.' His campaign follows a high profile rift between the city council's former leader ~Mike Storey~ and former chief executive Sir ~David Henshaw~.
