It accused The Mersey Partnership – also represented on the "Cabinet" – of having a "theme- park approach", obsessed with image over the needs of local people. Mr Kilfoyle said his aim was to "put the cat among the pigeons" and expose the hollowness of the grand claims made for the city-region and devolution.

He added: "We are going about this in half-cocked, British way, creating a cosy local cabal while maintaining the status quo, to all intents and purposes.Nobody is coming together in an efficient and intelligent way. A lead must come from somewhere if we are to enthuse local people and channel their inventiveness and dynamism."

Mr Kilfoyle said he was won over to the idea of a directly-elected mayor by the experience of London.

He declined to say who might fill the post, but promised: "Cometh the hour, cometh the man, or woman."

The city-region – comprising Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton – was created in January.

The Mersey Partnership declined to comment on the criticisms, but Cllr Ron Round, Knowsley's leader and the Cabinet's chairman, said the study was three years out of date.

He added: "The city region Cabinet has made tremendous progress since then. We have already started to see the benefits of this partnership working.

"Over 30,000 people were helped from benefits into work during 2008-09 and the city region recently secured funding to create 6,000 jobs through the Future Jobs Fund."