• IF politics, even local politics, is often about story-telling what narrative for Camden Labour did the last mayor create?

Her two-year tenure was started with the CNJ story of the ridiculously inflated cost of the investiture party and bookended by last week’s report of planting a tree to commemorate the service of the mayor’s chosen charity for victims of domestic abuse – a significant problem that has seen a rise, perhaps due to recent lockdowns. And support for this charity is commendable.

In two years the mayor collected an increased, record-breaking, sum for expense allowances. What did a ceremonial mayor do for this? How does this relate to the lower income voter?

Whether you see a legitimate case for protest at the performance of a ceremonial mayor as churlish, given that elevation to Camden’s number one citizen really serves as recognition of a mayor’s previous outstanding service to the community, you could still question how much money they now get – and up a further 4.2 per cent since April.

What does this costly narrative potentially say about the relevance of ceremonial mayors in Camden? That becoming one can be a small lottery win with chains – if not bells – on.

Is there not a case for our Labour council using the money more effectively while getting more product by following the example of Hartlepool of old? They made a monkey their mayor.

Camden could choose, in the spirit of local inclusivity, Vlad the Impala at London Zoo or the City Farm goat or even a Highgate ponds mandarin duck to be our cost-effective ceremonial mayor?

Their institutions could make good use of the allowances. Funds have been cut for communities but not for councillors.

DAVID A WILLIAMS, NW2