TODAY'S Labour Party operates double standards when it comes to open democratic election policies.

In local government, the Labour hierarchy believes that directly elected mayors are a more responsible and democratic way of selecting the local politicians who will run our towns and cities.

Yet in central government at Westminster they operate an antiquated system of appointing this country's Prime Minister involving only the party's MPs.

I believe that directly elected mayors are the most democratic way of selecting the political leaders of our towns and cities. Surely every voter in this country should also have the legal right to vote directly for the Prime Minister, who would then have the nation's authority to run our country.

Councillor Ken Walker, Independent, Gresham Ward, Middlesbrough.