The northern mayors can certainly become part of a regional renaissance (Editorial, 3 March), but there are some big issues that need to be addressed if the north is to really benefit. First, there’s a big democratic deficit in the city-region model of governance. One person is elected mayor, but without being part of a team of elected councillors (unlike the old Greater Manchester county council, abolished by Thatcher). All we have is an indirect accountability through the district leaders. It’s not good enough.
Second, the areas covered by the city-region mayors only include parts of the north. Areas such as east Lancashire, with large and economically deprived towns including Burnley and Accrington, are not in the city region.
