Staging the referendum on whether to have an elected mayor in Bradford will cost more than £140,000, it was revealed last night.

The order which forces the district to hold a referendum was approved by the House of Commons yesterday – despite it being formally opposed by Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe and his Labour colleagues.

Mr Sutcliffe said he was not opposed to a referendum, or the mayoral model, but was against it being forced on the city, especially given the cost during tough economic times.

He said: “All the groups on the Council are opposed to a mayor so unity has broken out in Bradford.

“The problem for a city mayor is that Bradford is so diverse and also the geography of the area. It is not just the City of Bradford but areas like Shipley, Keighley and Bingley, all with very strong identities.

“I believe in strong leadership and we have a tremendous history in Bradford. We introduced free school meals and health care in schools but it has to be about what local people want.

“Mayors have worked in other cities but I am not sure it will be the case in Bradford. In these austere times should we be spending this much money on a referendum? There is no appetite for it and it is a costly exercise.”

Bradford voters will vote for or against having a mayor on May 3 without knowing what powers it would have. Government claims it does not want to impose a “one size fits all” approach. Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said the Government believed, and evidence showed, where there was powerful accountable leadership, it could deliver economic growth and prosperity to an area.

“In all of the cities that contribute so much to our economy, this issue should be addressed. There are a huge amount of views across Bradford and that is exactly why we need a healthy debate. It is about local choice and what is right for the city,” he said.

He added: “That is what we are allowing them to do, to have their say over how their city is governed. It will be in the hands of Bradford to decide.”

Labour forced a vote on the order but Government won with ten MPs voting in favour and six against.