Mayors make collective case for greater devolution

England’s seven mayors will meet for the first time today as they push the case for greater devolution.

The mayors will call for further devolved control over public services including skills, training and apprenticeship services, as well as real influence over programmes designed to help people get back to work.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street will join his counterparts from London, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and Tees Valley at a summit in the capital. The mayors from the regions were elected in May, following devolution settlements with central Government.

Street said: “This Government more than any other has pushed the devolution agenda with the creation of combined authorities and Mayors.

“I believe now is the time for Government go a step further and provide us with the tools to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities we each face. We are already proving our worth, now let us really kick on with the job.”

The seven – four Conservative and three Labour – believe they are best placed to “increase growth and job creation”. Collectively they want a significant increase in fiscal devolution, with regions given greater control over existing taxes and the revenues they create, rather than having to rely on Government grants.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added: “We may come from different parts of the country and represent different political parties but we all share the same belief – that the best way to secure ongoing prosperity across the country is by giving city regions more control.

“There is no doubt that, as regional Mayors, we are the best-placed people to deliver services to meet the specific need of local people – so we are calling on Government to speed up the devolution process and give us more ability to improve peoples’ lives.”

It is expected this will be the first in a series of summits attended by all of England’s regional and city-wide Mayors.