Letters September 9: Undemocratic to force through concept of elected mayors

WHY is the Government trying to impose the concept of elected mayors? In May 2012, most large metropolitan districts that held a referendum on the concept voted against it, albeit on a low turnout of voters.

It seems to me to be undemocratic to now try to force the concept through and reinforce it with a financial carrot, using Manchester as a model.

Instead of continuing to tinker with political control and joint local authority areas, the Government should make far more resources available to Northern cities and less for the capital (The Yorkshire Post, September 1). If George Osborne is serious about his Northern Powerhouse, he should back it with resources, not political gaming.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

THE devolution proposals being put forward for the West Riding are a bureaucrat’s delight. All the funding allocated – and more – will be swallowed up by increased administration, with only scraps left over for public services.

A huge opportunity is being missed to gain real devolution for a unified Yorkshire, with general administration handled by small councils like the old Urban and Rural Districts.

Is it really too late for our masters to get together to achieve a unified Yorkshire – which would have some financial and authoritative clout?

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

I NOTICED when the English- based BBC TV News was reporting the £500m investment for Faslane, home of Trident nuclear submarines, on the Clyde, the Corporation described north of the border not as Scotland but as “the region”. Presumably they meant – of the UK!

From: John Appleyard, Liversedge.

THE House of Lords is now the world’s second largest legislative body after China’s National People’s Congress. The US, which has a population four times that of the UK, has 100 members in its Upper House, whilst we have 826! The 45 new members announced will cost the taxpayer up to £13,500 a day.

In a democracy there should be no unelected chamber. While David Cameron keeps increasing the number of unelected peers, he plans to reduce the number of elected members of Parliament.

This anti-democratic move should be opposed.