Voice Of The Argus on Saturday ("A result that we will all live to regret", October 20) does the paper no credit.

Perhaps what has provoked such a vitriolic piece is that, despite months of backing the Yes campaign, the voters of the city - the readers of The Argus - have seen through the cant and nonsense and given the concept of a directly-elected mayor a decisive thumbs-down.

No doubt the editorial writer felt the article was delivering a telling insult to the people behind the No campaign.

The reality is that it was an insult to The Argus's readers by calling into question their ability to make a judgement based on the arguments - a strange way to maintain their loyalty.

Take a lead from Roger French, who said after the result of the referendum was announced that, although he was disappointed, we must all work together to make the new committee system work for all the citizens of Brighton and Hove.

I pay credit to his magnanimity in defeat.

-Geoffrey Bowden, Editor, No campaign newspaper, Sussex Square, Brighton