B14: Mayors

The issue of directly elected mayors (DEMs) raises important questions about local democratic accountability, leadership and local service provision, all of which lie at the heart of local democracy in England. CLES recently published a Local August 2003 – Work – Local Democracy and Directly-Elected Mayors – in which two leading protagonists debated the compelling arguments for and against mayors. This has been just one of the showcases for one of the most heated discussions in local government. This Bulletin delves into the debate by looking at recent press coverage on the topic of directly elected mayors.