Senior politicians who support directly elected mayors have high hopes that Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol will opt for the model in referendums next May – creating a potentially 'unstoppable process'.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed referendums on whether to hold mayoral elections will take place across 11 cities on 3 May next year. The cities in question also include Bradford, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield.