[TamSV]

I agree party politics would be best left out of it, but this is one of those situations where party affiliation may not matter too much, IF you get the right candidate.

A strong enough individual in a position like this can do much that their greater party might not agree with. There's no "whip" to worry about and, if the voting public like what they're doing, there's no chance that their party would deselect them.

Look at the London Mayor. Neither Ken or Boris are cardboard cut-outs for their respective political party.

I like my politics local so I hope this is a roaring success and we emulate it in Scotland.

Is there a more general distrust of local democracy? I was surprised at the rejection of local mayors in the English regions earlier in the year. I think that was an opportunity missed.