The opportunities to kickstart progress and prosperity in our region that devolution should bring just haven’t happened under the current Mayor.
There will be no congestion charge, no pay per mile, no London-style ULEZ expansion for as long as I am Mayor.
Some projects that had previously been announced were included, as were some projects that had even been completed. Some of the announcements related to local projects for which the decision to proceed rested with regional mayors not central government.
Next year, we have all-out elections due to local boundary changes. We’re preparing for some very interesting results.
He will probably get the Conservative nomination, while defeating Labour in the election next May will be more challenging. But doesn’t being a county council leader have more power anyway?
The A list and its successors haven’t kept a golden generation out of Parliament. Many of those who might have made it up aren’t putting themselves forward for selection in the first place.
Many former Labour supporters may decide on 4th May that the Conservatives, led now by a Hindu PM, are a better bet.
Rather than a gimmicky new layer of Government it would have been better to adopt a more localist approach of handing powers to existing local authorities.
During the Truss era, the role of Metro Mayors in finding locations for low-regulation investment zones could be significant.
It offers the opportunity to devolve powers directly to county and unitary authorities – rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all Metro Mayor model.
Council leaders can pass the buck and play political blame games when they should be taking action. We need proper accountability.
In the run up to the White Paper on Levelling Up, our interview with the former Chancellor opens this week’s ConHome series on localism.
Croydon is to join Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets, in having this directly elected position.
Powers over transport and infrastructure will help us shape the places of the future. Devolved skills budgets will get the support young people need.
We need the flexibility and support, now common practice in the private sector, for more woman to come forward.