CAN I ask why Simon Henig, the Leader of Durham County Council, signed the Northern devolution document, then a few days later said he would have a public referendum next year, which will have no powers to stop the devolution plan?

Why waste public money? It is a done deal.

I would ask why, at a time when austerity measures are still in place, do we need to waste money on elected mayors.

The voters of Sedgefield Borough Council voted against an elected mayor a few years ago.

What we need is less government – a large reduction in MPs, members of the House of Lords and all our MEPs and an end to our membership of the EU.

Ben Ord, Spennymoor