A last ditch attempt to prevent the imposition of a shadow mayor on major cities including Coventry and Birmingham has failed, despite opposition from across the country.

It means Ministers are set to name Birmingham’s Conservative council leader Mike Whitby mayor of Birmingham, even though Labour received far more votes in local elections earlier this month.

The controversial plan was backed in the Commons when a Labour amendment to the Government’s Localism Bill was rejected by MPs, despite a small rebellion by Liberal Democrat backbenchers.

Labour received 48.5 per cent of votes cast in Birmingham on the May 5 local election, according to an analysis published by the city council.

The Conservatives were a clear second with 27.3 per cent, and the Lib Dems came third with 14.7 per cent. However, Coun Whitby remains council leader because the Tories and their coalition partners the Lib Dems still have a majority of council seats between them.

Ministers plan to name him shadow mayor of Birmingham when the Government’s Localism Bill receives Royal Assent this summer.

As the legislation stands, he could even continue to lead the council as mayor if Labour wins enough seats in next year’s local elections to give them a majority of councillors.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell, a Liberal Democrat, admitted the proposal had sparked opposition in all parties.

He told MPs: “I recognise, in particular, that there were different views on mayors, not only between Government and opposition Front Benchers but between some of my Honourable Friends.