The next government must extend the English devolution map to at least 85% of the population to tackle the economic underperformance of England’s cities and regions away from London.
That’s the conclusion of the Institute for Government think tank which says Metro mayors have already shown how they can improve regional economic performance – by improving transport systems, investing in training for the jobs of the future or leading major urban renewal projects.
However they say the map of English devolution is an incomplete patchwork of mismatched deals, the powers and funding devolved are still inadequate for the job at hand, and the entire devolution agenda is vulnerable to shifting Westminster priorities
Among their suggestions is the proposal to Expand the ‘trailblazer’ devolution offer to Greater Manchester and West Midlands to include strategic spatial planning, employment support, apprenticeships levy funding and R&D budgets, with greater spending flexibility than current rules allow.
They also suggest holding a Prime Minister-Metro Mayors summit held within two months of taking office – and on an annual basis thereafter – and a new set of minister-mayoral committees in key policy areas, to send a signal that metro mayors are important strategic partners for government
Report author and IfG programme director Akash Paun said:
“Metro mayors are now well-established leaders of place in England’s biggest urban regions – but we are still in the early stages of the devolution journey. Whoever is prime minister a year from now will have a historic opportunity to move beyond the current patchwork of deals and put in place a more coherent and durable settlement for England as a whole.”
Thomas Pope, report author and IfG deputy chief economist, said:
“English cities outside of London are not fulfilling their economic potential, dragging down overall UK economic performance. Devolving the right economic powers, like skills and transport, to combined authorities should help areas develop coherent economic strategies and grow faster in the long term. Providing more powers, such as over employment support, R&D and planning to current mayors should be a high priority for any government that wants to improve national growth.”
