A CONSULTATION of just 500 people in a city of roughly 500,000 population is, of course, hardly grounds for pushing through the biggest political shake-up at local level for decades.

But even after that note of caution, the results from a survey conducted by Liverpool City Council do seem to suggest that a considerable number of people find the idea attractive.

What has not yet emerged is exactly why they find the idea attractive – assuming, of course, that was even asked.

Is the sample effectively declaring a plague on everyone involved in the government of Liverpool and looking for an alternative untainted by the machinery of the major parties?

Or have they come to the conclusion that the whole philosophy of running a big city today in accordance with the needs and the wishes of the residents needs some sort of overhaul?

Whichever way, it looks like an idea whose time may be about to come whether we like it or not, given the Conservatives’ fascination with the idea and the suggestions from Labour thinkers that maybe the whole Liverpool City Region needs an elected mayor.

Certainly if the Tories win the inevitable General Election next year, all eyes will be on their first Queen’s Speech for clues as to which way they believe the future of local government lies.

Given the complexity of running a city like Liverpool, and the inevitable involvement of the party machines if the idea of an elected mayor is accepted, the chances are that the eventual occupant of the hotseat will be drawn from the ranks of local political leaders rather than some squeaky-clean but inexperienced outsider.

But there is still a long long way to go.