Guy Aitchison (London, OK):Remember Labour's "big idea" for elected mayors across the country? It was quietly shelved in 2002 after a dissapointing uptake by the small number of local authorities that held a referendum on the issue, but many still believe they are the key to returning real power and accountability to local government.
Now Dorothy Thornhill, the Lib Dem elected Mayor for Watford, has a thoughtful post on Lib Dem Voice on why the party should drop its opposition to elected mayors. Lib Dems have traditionally been wary of the idea of concentrating power in the hands of a single leader but she thinks elected mayors could help the party reach its goal of a more decentralised political system. Well worth a read.
