POLICY rather than personality should be the reason behind people being voted into power, according to Labour Party stalwart Roy Hattersley.

Speaking at the Rivoili Ballroom, in Brockley Road, Brockley, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party spoke against the possibility of a directly-elected mayor in Lewisham.

The public meeting was organised by cross-party Democracy for Lewisham, which is going head-to-head with the Lewisham Says Yes campaign.

Under the current system, the mayor is chosen by councillors from the majority party, but residents will decide if they want to vote for their own mayor in this month's referendum.

Such a mayor would have decision-making powers and would head an executive cabinet.

Confirming his support for democracy Mr Hattersley said: “Politics should be run on the basis of policies not personality.

“I'm against directly-elected mayors because I believe in democracy and I'm passionately against them because I am a socialist.

“Elected mayors score very well if you want your council run like a business.

“If you want it run for services, the leader-cabinet model is the better option.”

Many residents at the meeting raised concerns over the potential for further privatisation of services under a proposed system concentrating decision-making power in the hands of one person.

Green Party principal speaker Darren Johnson raised his concerns over the possibility of patronage and corruption of a mayor surrounded with yes- men.

Mr Johnson said: “We've only got to look at the United States where 50 executive mayors are currently in prison.”

If the majority of residents vote no, the council will be run under a leader-cabinet mode.

This sees the decision-making power shared out between the leader and cabinet members.

Residents will receive their postal votes from tomorrow (Thursday).

All votes have to be returned by October 18.