As I live in Swinton,I voted "Yes"to a directly elected mayor so in that sense I am glad,but in saying that the turnout of just over 18% is quite pathetic,and yes I do have to question whether this result should be valid or not being honest,and I think it is high time that the law is changed and that voting in elections,both general and local and referendums should be compulsory like it is in Australia.I believe also that in Australia you can return the voting slip blank,but so long as you have turned up to vote,that is fine.And in my opinion no result should be valid unless 51% of voters have actually cast their vote.And to me John Merry is being a bit hypocritical when he calls into question the validity of the vote when his Labour councillors are often voted in when a similar percentage of voters have bothered to vote in council elections,therefore using his yardstick those results should be called into question then shoulkdn't they Mr Merry?