A fortnight from today Labour's devolution agenda faces a key test at the polls.

Seven mayoral elections take place on May 2 against a background of public indifference to a flagship Labour local government initiative.

Out of 23 local referendums, just eight backed the idea of powerful city mayors.

The average turnout for the polls was just 26 per cent, according to figures published by the New Local Government Network.

In Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency 53 per cent of those who turned out to vote rejected the mayoral vision.

With only a third voting, over 82 per cent of the prime minister's own constituents were either opposed or uncaring to an idea intended to revive moribund town halls.

Elections in Doncaster, Hartlepool, Lewisham, Newham, North Tyneside and Watford are likely to pass most voters by - with only one contest shows any sign of life.

Yhe government will find little comfort or signs of a new third way politics from the fight in Middlesbrough.

It seems that for local mayoral politics to come alive charismatic rebel figures are needed to kick-start backing for US-style civic leaders.

In London, Ken Livingstone took on the Millbank Labour machine, splitting his party to win in a contest that otherwise may not have registered on the political Richter scale.

In Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, a controversial zero tolerance "robocop" is set, some predict, to beat Labour.

Mallon was once feted by Downing Street before being suspended from the Cleveland force police, accused of behaviour "that could be construed as criminal" as part of an anti-corruption investigation.

Later cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, Mallon admitted disciplinary charges and left the force to come out fighting in a new political role that could be the biggest test yet for Labour's mayoral reforms.

"I have always confronted my enemies, I have always taken on the bully boys," said Mallon of his critics in his local newspaper column.

"They prefer to live in an ivory tower where they can smear me and then skulk away rather than take open questions from the press or public."

His confrontational style and popular grassroots support has split Labour, with Mallon said to enjoy strong private support from local councillors.

With the "apathy party" likely to sweep the board on May 2 and central government having to face doing business with those who are not its preferred choice, Tony Blair may well rue his attempt at reforming local democracy.