'Come clean on elected mayors' plea

The Government was under pressure last night to come clean on whether it will impose elected mayors on four Yorkshire cities before voters decide whether they want them.

Labour demanded answers after Local Government Minister Bob Neill revealed the coalition plans to install council leaders as mayors and then let voters say whether they want to stick with the system in a “confirmatory referendum”.

The move would mark a U-turn for the Tories, who had promised voters in Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield and Bradford a referendum before changing the system.