‘None of the above' sums up the mood of many voters as the political season resumes. The expenses scandal involving MPs is impacting unfairly on councillors, who've had their remuneration heavily regulated for years. But how might this mood of disillusionment play out in local government terms in the months to come? The position of directly-elected mayor offers a way for candidates and the electorate to thumb their noses at the established parties. Ray Mallon in Middlesbrough, Stuart Drummond in Hartlepool, and – initially – Ken Livingstone in London, all got elected as independents. And Mr Mallon and Mr Drummond are now in their eighth year in office, very much their own men, beholden to no party. They were joined by Peter Davies, elected mayor of Doncaster in June. He's a member of the tiny English Democrat party, and playing to the public's disillusionment with politics with a vengeance. He's slashed his salary by £43,000, says his chief executive's £175,000 pay cheque is a joke, and declared war on political correctness. He's binned a report on spatial strategy, intends to leave the LGA, and has told officers to find savings of 15%. When his deeds were published in a national newspaper, hundreds of people blogged messages of support. So, will the current national round of consultation produce a widespread demand from the public for more independent elected mayors in tune with the anti-politicians mood? Not necessarily. Sefton MBC on Merseyside has just completed its survey, and just 19 people bothered to respond. Supporters of elected mayors claim that's what happens when the political establishment is against an idea. Sefton insists notices were placed in local newspapers, libraries and on council tax bills. It seems to take local issues rather than a general feeling of malaise to trigger demands for elected mayors.
