INTUITION suggests there is an ulterior motive here, especially as only five or six years ago we went through a lengthy period of local government re-organisation.

There is a quiet infiltration by the un-elected bureaucrats in Brussels.

In addition to the Euro currency question we have the South West Regional Assembly.

This is one of the 12 regions set up in England by the EU.

It will have to have representatives from every council on its assembly. Eventually I understand it is to be answerable to the EU.

My surmise may be wrong, but a well paid elected mayor (£65,000 is a suggested figure for Plymouth), the chief executive and cabinet will share responsibility for attending this regional assembly, and no doubt will spend hours discussing the affairs of Bristol, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall.

Do not our councillors have enough to do at home?

To vote for an elected mayor would mean voting for a sitting councillor, or anyone from outside.

With our local government system as opposed to the Continental one, our mayor is not all powerful.

We grumble about party politics but this would be euro-politick!

So, I wouldn't wish to change the current system.

Anne Crampton

Oaklands Park

Okehampton