Battle lines are being drawn for the fight over whether Brighton and Hove should have a directly-elected mayor.

Opposition parties and Labour rebels are the main people who think the city should be run by an improved version of the old committee system.

Backers of the ruling Labour administration, including some who would like to be the new mayor, are among those who want the people to say yes.

Unison, the local government union, has donated £500 to people campaigning for a no result in the poll on October 18.

Now the Local Government Network, a lobby group, has decided to make a loan of £2,000 to the yes campaign.

Money will be needed by both sides to put a good case to the public.

Larger loans and donations are coming from groups which have an interest in the result. Unison thinks the new mayor would be the tool of big business. The Local Government Network believes the committee system would be impossibly bureaucratic for a big, modern city.

Luckily for those who fear a David and Goliath battle with the yes people getting more cash than their rivals, there are strict limits on spending.

The Argus will ensure that the arguments are made fairly within its pages in the run-up to the poll.

We believe, on balance, the new mayoral system will be the best bet for the city. But it's up to the voters and there should be no lack of information for them to make their choice.