The decision by the combined councils in Greater Manchester to choose who the interim Mayor for the region should be in the period until a public election can take place in 2017 shows how little respect these powerful politicians have for their electors. Elections for directly elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners (the new Mayor will also be the regions PCC) in other areas returned a significant number of Independent candidates. As a result of the process planned for Greater Manchester, their first Mayor will be a Labour Party member whether the residents of Manchester wish this or not. This is a travesty and it is time our Political Parties stopped treated their constituents as Pavlov’s dogs, turning out to vote every few years, with no involvement in between elections. One of the major challenges is the cost of elections and referenda at a time when public finances are under pressure. However the involvement of people in making such important decisions in their communities is vital. In many areas including large parts of Manchester, the outcome of elections are so predictable that our Political Parties act as if they can appoint MPs and Mayors, just as they choose who sits in the House of Lords. When the electorate in Greater Manchester are finally allowed to vote for their Mayor, they will be aware that in 2012 when they were invited to decide if they should have a Mayor for the city of Manchester their answer was no. In 2017 thanks to George Osborne they will have no choice and will be faced with the obligation of electing a Mayor for the region. The expected outcome is that a Labour party candidate will be crowned by the grateful crowds of Mancunians. However these voters could instead overturn this sense of control and entitlement by these two dominant Political Parties and elect a credible Independent Mayor. This would ensure that both Labour and Conservative Parties are taught a lesson that they will not forget, at least until the next election!