A deal which will inject £1bn into the East Midlands over three decades and is hoped to potentially tempt business giants similar to Rolls-Royce into the region has been signed. And Mansfield's Conservative MP and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Ben Bradley, says he will not be 'ruling out' becoming the mayor.
The Conservative Government has now set in stone a devolution deal worth £1.14 billion, which will pass down powers and money from top brass in London to local leaders in the East Midlands. A new combined authority covering 2.2 million people across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be created with an accountable mayor.
It will bring the region on par with areas such as Greater Manchester, with Labour's Andy Burnham as mayor, and the West Midlands, with Conservative Andy Street.
