A slow-burn political revolution is taking place in the north of England. At the fifth Convention of the North last week in Leeds, metro mayors once again joined forces to bang the drum for a better deal from central government and greater powers. After May’s council elections, their ranks will be swelled by the first leader of the new York and North Yorkshire combined authority. By 2025, a mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire is expected to be in place.
At that point, the vast majority of northern England will be covered by mayoral combined authorities. A decade-old model successfully pioneered by Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester (and Andy Street in the West Midlands) has gradually become the new normal, as regions seek similar “trailblazer” freedoms in areas such as transport, housing and skills.
