A Bradford Liberal Democrat MP says he will support moves to block Government plans for the creation of shadow district mayors.

Labour MPs have tabled amendments to the Coalition’s Localism Bill, which includes proposals for referendums on elected mayors in England’s 12 largest cities. Under the plans a shadow mayor would be appointed in each city ahead of the referendums.

Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood would automatically take on the role in Bradford from the summer, even though the referendum would not be held until May 2012.

David Ward, MP for Bradford East, said: “My view on elected mayors is very clear. The issue of the government of a local authority should be for elected members of that local authority to determine.

“To have a shadow mayor when we have not even had an election to decide whether they want a mayor is rather bizarre.

"It would give an advantage to a particular individual who may want to go for the elected mayor role. It should be for a local authority to decide if it wants a referendum.

"This is a Localism Bill. It should be about devolving authority to local authorities not imposing it from the centre.”

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