LABOUR supporters rather than simply paid-up members should pick the party’s candidate to be Liverpool’s first directly elected mayor, David Miliband has said.

The former Labour leadership contender called for US-style ‘open primaries’ for all the looming city mayoral elections, to help the party “reconnect with the British people”.

It follows a historic vote by Labour-run Liverpool council on Tuesday night to ditch the role of council leader and have a directly elected mayor instead.

The move that was supported by all Labour councillors and a handful of Liberal Democrats unlocks a £130m investment deal from the government.

The confirmation of the change in governance structure, bypassing a referendum that will be held in other cities, also fired the starting gun on the race to become Liverpool’s first elected mayor on May 3.

The only candidates confirmed so far are celebrity hairdresser Herbert Howe and elected mayor campaigner Liam Fogarty.

Under Mr Miliband’s plan voters would register as Labour supporters – by paying a £1 fee for example – giving them the right to take part in the postal ballot.

In Liverpool an open primary could open up the possibility of a challenge to city council leader Joe Anderson, who is widely expected to be Labour’s choice.

Mr Miliband said the switch would allow many tens of thousands of supporters to have their say in each of England’s big cities rather than just a couple of thousand members.

And he added: “It would be really exciting and would get a lot of engagement from people. It would give the Labour candidate a flying start.”