SIR – The referendum for the major cities is this week, and it has always been the case that the most important matter that decides the outcome is the layout of the question. This certainly applies this time.

Many correspondents have been published in this newspaper, mainly against a change in the system. Most electors will expect a simple straightforward question such as: “Do you support a directly-elected mayor governing your city?” With a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ box to tick.

However, as the Government are promoting a new style of governance, they have formulated a very slanted question that many will not clearly understand. It will cause confusion.

The question is: “How would you like the Bradford Metropolitan Council to be run?”

By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors – this is how the council is run now. This is the equivalent to saying ‘no’ to the previous simple question. In fact, there is no opportunity to actually vote ‘no’.

The other question means ‘yes’ to a single supremo running the city.

Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley