Labour loses the initiative on local government

Whatever else comes out of David Cameron's decision to hold referendums on creating elected mayors in Britain's big cities, it has certainly prompted debate about reform of local government.

Mr Cameron, the Conservative leader, Hazel Blears, Labour's Local Government Secretary, and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, have all written articles for the Post on the topic this week.

But in some ways, the Tories are late to the ball. Labour has been talking about creating a mayor for cities like Birmingham for donkey's years.

The difference is that the government proposal has two stages. First, campaigners face the difficult task of convincing thousands of people to sign a petition saying they want a referendum. After that, the actual ballot takes place.

Mr Cameron's policy is to sweep away the first stage, and simply order 12 major cities to hold votes on whether to have a mayor, all on the same day. The referenda will probably coincide with local or European elections.

At least one Labour figure is furious that Mr Cameron has been allowed to steal the spotlight. Philip Collins, who was once Tony Blair's speechwriter, complained that the Tories had "stepped in" to snatch Labour's ideas while the Government stayed silent.

Based on his bad-tempered article in The Times, Mr Collins seems to be one of those Blairites who are still furious that their man isn't in charge any more.

But he does have a point. This was once a Labour policy, which the Conservatives have somehow taken the lead on.