Fury at threat to elected mayors

MINISTERS last night were furious over a threat by Sir Norman Fowler to block a Bill giving councils the power to hold pilot schemes for directly elected mayors across Britain.

Sir Norman, the Tory spokesman on the environment, warned the Government that he could block the move in a private member's Bill by cross-bench peer Lord Hunt, when it arrives in the Commons, unless the Government allocates time for a full debate. Letters, page 18