Letter: Tony Blair's ideology has little to do with the Labour Party

From Mr David Rendel, MP

Sir: Your substantial coverage of Tony Blair's proposal to impose a system of all-powerful mayors on local government highlights the hypocritical nature of Labour's current approach to local democracy. Far from putting "voters back in the driving seat of local government" (leading article; "Someone worth calling mayor", 12 December), Mr Blair's proposal may simply make it easier for central government to strengthen its hold over local authorities.

It was after all Mr Blair who, only weeks earlier, drummed the leader of Walsall council, David Church, out of the Labour Party.

Under the Blair plan, many more local authorities would be dominated by a highly personalised leadership. Yet Mr Blair has made it clear that he will only allow such leadership to remain in place if it conforms strictly to national Labour Party policy.

It is hard to believe that the policy represents any new philosophical commitment to local democracy. Ultimately, Labour must face up to the fact that local democracy is not meant to offer maximum convenience to prime ministers - or to leaders of the opposition.

It is intended to offer local people an effective means of governing their own affairs in a way that is truly accessible and accountable. This is a simple point, but it does not fit with Mr Blair's vision of a presidential Britain where he and his elite band of disciples pull all the strings of power.

Yours sincerely,

David Rendel

MP for Newbury (Lib Dem)

House of Commons

London, SW1

12 December