The Government should introduce elected mayors in every major town and city in England, according to a paper for the latest edition of ppr, the quarterly journal of the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr).

This would give stronger local political leadership, clearer accountability and encourage central government to decentralise more powers to local government.

ippr’s research shows that England’s experience of mayors – in places including London, Hartlepool and Hackney – has been positive. Mayors have proved highly capable leaders overseeing an improvement in the performance of their councils and developing innovative policies. ippr argues that more towns and cities with mayors would have the potential to reinvigorate local politics.

ippr recommends that Gordon Brown legislate to introduce mayors in all major towns and cities in England so places such as Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Brighton can enjoy the benefits mayors bring.

Although the Government recognises the benefits of mayors, the current system is biased against introducing them. A referendum to elect a mayor can only be triggered either by a majority vote from councillors or a petition signed by five per cent of constituents. Since powerful local government voices have opposed mayors - anxious about possible threats to their own influence - very few councils pushed for them.

Where referendums have been held, local politicians have often led campaigns against them. Not surprisingly this has resulted in the creation of just 13 mayors (including London’s) with the last in 2002.

ippr argues that Ministers are reluctant to devolve powers because they fear being blamed for policy failures and delivery problems, that they aren’t directly responsible for. A visible and well known mayor could address this fear by providing greater political accountability and clearly defined executive responsibility. Once in place mayors could encourage ministers to devolve more powers to the locality.

Guy Lodge, Senior Research Fellow, ippr, said: “Even though mayors have proved a success in places like London, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, the current system allows councils to block the creation of more mayors. Mayoral campaigns like the current London one help to invigorate local politics by provoking interest and debate on local issues.

"An elected mayor in every major English town and city would give central government assurance that it could devolve powers to a safe pair of locally accountable hands.”