Question time over elected mayors vote

Cities Minister Greg Clark was joined by Labour’s former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis for the event at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with guests from the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of commerce.

Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and Wakefield are among 10 major cities across England which will hold a referendum in May.

Jo Tanner, director of the Campaign for Directly-Elected Mayors, said: “It was a good meeting with some strong questions – one of the main inquiries was what would happen if Leeds says no? Essentially they are not at the top table, not sitting with the Prime Minister and the decision makers.

“They will be with the also-rans, that is the stark reality of it.”

Ms Tanner said the current model of local government meant council leaders were not accountable enough. “Council leaders like Keith Wakefield in Leeds were elected by a few thousand people in their ward, and then chosen by other members in their group, that to me is not representative of the whole city,” she said. “We see mayors as a way for cities to break through. Leeds has for too long spoken with a whisper; a city like Leeds should roar.”