The advance of elected mayors continues apace, despite the negative votes in city referendums last week. The London mayoral contest dominated May’s local elections. London’s transport, and much else besides, has been transformed for the better by twelve years of the mayoralty. Polls show more Londoners now favour independence for the capital than the abolition [...]
Originally published in the Birmingham Post There was a time when Birmingham was undisputedly the nation’s second city. Nowadays a host of other cities are nipping at its heels. Greater Manchester is now by far the most autonomous and powerful city outside London, it also boasts the biggest airport. Leeds is the biggest provincial hub [...]
Originally published in The Times Can you name the leaders of Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds city councils, three of the largest cities in England? No? You are in good company. When I asked the question at a conference of local authority chief executives, not even they could name all three. But have you met [...]
The Institute for Government and I are quoted in this Economist article Britain’s few elected mayors have mostly worked well. That doesn’t mean other cities will vote for them. GISELA STUART, a Labour MP, trots round her Birmingham constituency, listening to gripes about traffic, litter and the sundry inconveniences of life in a busy city. [...]
Posts from my tour of the English cities holding referendums on whether they should have executive mayors: Bristol, 5th January 2011 Bristol City Council has had seven changes of leader in eight years. Yet another change of leader could be in the offing after next May’s elections. But even if the current administration – run [...]
Lunar Society Annual Lecture, Birmingham, 15 March 2011 As an Arsenal supporter, I know never to underestimate Birmingham City. Not only because of the Carling Cup, but also because, living in Highbury, I am conscious that when Joseph Chamberlain – in many ways the creator of modern Birmingham – was sent from London to Birmingham [...]