A city council meeting is to debate whether to exercise powers under the Localism Act 2011 to move to a directly elected mayor.

There was a referendum on the issue due on May 3rd, however, if the motion is passed then a Mayoral election will take it's place.

The move has been made by Labour Council leader Joe Anderson, who believes this could be a "game changer" and open up all sorts financial avenues for City whilst putting Liverpool "ahead of Manchester and other Cities."

Opposition councillors, however, are against the notion. Richard Kemp, deputy leader of the City's Liberal Democrats feels that the biggest change in local government since 1984, should be decided by "the people, not 90 councillors."

Dr. Michael Holmes, senior lecturer of Politics at Liverpool Hope University, gives a balanced viewpoint to having a directly elected mayor.