We have less than a year to get people to vote for Devo Mayoral candidates and to see whether the devolution revolution takes grip.
There are already many Devo sceptics in both Tory and Labour ranks who see this as George Osborne's crude attempt to curry favour and fortune. This poses the question what will happen to George and his ambitions after 23rd June? How likely is it that he will succeed Cameron if the nation votes Brexit? Indeed will he even be Chancellor in a year's time? Without George at the helm will the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine flounder and run out of steam?
I think not. I am convinced that the Labour Party must recapture and shape the devolution agenda. Imagine a Labour Mayor in many of our major cities and not just London. This would provide Labour with some real power, influence and control outside Westminster. It is not surprising then that some senior Labour MPs are looking to put their hats in the ring to become an elected Mayor; seeing the appeal of having real power to change things versus languishing on the back benches in Opposition. Now is the time for Labour to cultivate strong candidates, sharpen-up their Devo vision and reclaim some territory.
Devolution should be a powerful weapon for Labour but they need to grasp it and use it to their full advantage. Those who are selected as Mayoral candidates will not only need to build personal profile but also to have a strong vision if the public are to understand what a Devo Mayor could do for them and actually turn out to vote. This is a genuine opportunity to create a new sense of strong Civic Leadership and pride, a new model of local governance and control which will in turn deliver a new sense of social justice in our communities, greater investment, growth, skills, jobs and better transport and infrastructure. What's not to like?
With or without George the focus needs to shift away from national politics to finding strong, charismatic civic leaders to take forward a strong vision for a brighter and more prosperous future.
The success of the devolution revolution is not down to George and certainly not Jeremy. In the end it will be down to those with a revolutionary and bold vision for our cities and areas outside London to come forward and lead the way.
We need a new brand of civic leader and Mayoral candidates who will use their power to fight for and deliver change. Watch this space as it will be fascinating to see who emerges as front runners in the Devo Mayoral race following the EU referendum.
Headlines
Local Election results & City Mayors
Last week elections were held for City Mayors in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Salford, ahead of the first devo-mayoral elections next year, and Labour swept the board winning all four elections. Labour held Liverpool and Salford, with incumbent Joe Anderson and new candidate Paul Dennett elected with significant majorities. Labour also won control of City Hall from Conservative control, with Sadiq Khan beating Zac Goldsmith in London to replace Boris Johnson as Mayor of London. In Bristol, Labour’s Marvin Rees beat the independent incumbent George Ferguson.
Public support greater powers for devo mayors
ComRes has polled adults in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, the North East and the West Midlands on behalf of the Centre for Cities to find out what the public think of devolution. The survey results show that a majority of adults in devo-regions think their new elected mayor should have greater powers than council leaders, and healthcare is consistently identified as the most important priority for politicians. However, the proportion of adults who are aware of the plans to introduce a new mayor is significantly higher in Manchester, Liverpool and the North East than in the Midlands and Sheffield.
Commission needed to give devolution “clear objectives”
The latest report from the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) at Newcastle University, ‘Decentralisation: Issues, Principles and Practice’ recommends creating an independent Decentralisation Commission to develop and appraise devolution models. CURDS says that current devolution arrangements are being implemented in a piecemeal way that makes government oversight and citizen involvement difficult, and says a Commission would help to clarify the principles of devolution.
What else is happening?
GREATER MANCHESTER
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce: members call for Northern Powerhouse refocus
The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has been consulting its members to inform its submission to the Commons Business, Innovation and Skills inquiry, Powerhouses and Engines. According to the Manchester Evening News, GMCC members are concerned about an “absence of business representation” in local decisions about devolution, and an “increasing lack of clarity” of the concept of devolution. In its submission the GMCC is expected to call for a “refocus” on transport and connectivity- the “core elements” of the Northern Powerhouse.
LONDON
Labour’s Sadiq Khan wins London Mayoralty
Labour’s Sadiq Khan beat Conservative candidate by a comfortable margin to become the new Mayor of London last week. This week he announced his first policy - a one hour ‘Hopper’ fare which allows passengers to change buses within one hour of touching in on the first bus at no additional charge. There were also rumours that Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Lord Adonis could be appointed Deputy Mayor for Transport.
WEST MIDLANDS
Worcester and Warwickshire set to u-turn on West Midlands deal
The Leader of Worcestershire County Council has refused to rule out rejecting the West Midland deal if he feels Worcestershire is not getting its fair share of the benefits. In his State of the County report, presented to the Council at its meeting yesterday he says that the Midlands Engine is a “really ambitious project” but adds that many of the Council’s priorities “we can achieve without Government” and “therefore we will continue to work with our partners to see what can be done without a devolution deal and assess whether a different configuration or arrangement could achieve our desired outcomes”.
WEST OF ENGLAND
Councils in Bristol area to decide on £1billion devolution deal
Councils in Bristol are set to vote on whether to formally approve of the region’s deal over the coming weeks. However, a Bath councillor, Andrew Furse has written an open letter criticising the proposals for an elected “Mayor of Avon” amid worries that funding and powers will be taken from the region’s councils and diverted to “another tier [of government] further removed from the people”. The Conservative MP for North East Somerset, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has supported Andrew Furse's comments.
HAMPSHIRE
Hampshire divided over devolution deals
The MJ is reporting that a third devolution deal for the region has been submitted to the Treasury, and could cause “factious relationships” between councils to “worsen even further”. The proposed Heart of Hampshire combined authority includes an elected Mayor and is supported by Hart DC, Basingstoke & Deane BC, New Forest DC, Rushmoor BC, Test Valley BC, Winchester City Council and the M3 LEP.