LIVERPOOL will have to wait a further 12 months to decide if it wishes to be run by a directly-elected mayor, a Cabinet minister appeared to confirm yesterday.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, backed up the Daily Post's revelation that the long-awaited referendum is poised to be delayed until 2013, saying: "I'm actively considering this."

Mr Pickles also laid bare his frustrations at repeated U-turns and confusions surrounding the once-flagship policy of city mayors, saying: "It's been a bit of a curse."

And he revealed he had now handed responsibility for the issue over to his deputy, planning minister Greg Clark, adding: "I'm not necessarily as informed as I might have been a couple of months ago."

The unusual admission appeared to confirm rumours Mr Pickles has gone cold on the idea of mayors, a policy driven forward by David Cameron's personal enthusiasm for new-style leadership.

We revealed, last week, that ministers were ready to accept a report by the independent Institute for Government (IfG), urging them to "phase" the mayoral referendums, planned for England's 12 largest cities.