Battlegrounds or Labour Consolidation? – What to watch out for in this week’s local elections

This is the first England wide test of electoral opinion since last year’s snap general election.  Seats on around 150 councils and according to Britain Elects 4,425 seats will be up for grabs, 40 per cent (1,833) of which are in London. This includes most seats in the city conurbations, such as all 32 London … Continue reading “Battlegrounds or Labour Consolidation? – What to watch out for in this week’s local elections”

Metro-Mayors: Can they address UK Regional Inequality?

Professor Simon Collinson discusses the need to devolve power in the UK to address the economic imbalance between London and the South East and the rest of the UK. Metro Mayors can potentially be a powerful instrument to promote regional growth which is critical to the long-term social and political stability of the country.   In … Continue reading “Metro-Mayors: Can they address UK Regional Inequality?”

Andy Street’s To-Do List: Challenges for the New WMCA Mayor

In this blog, Professor Simon Collinson, City-REDI, discusses the challenges facing the new WMCA Mayor. By a narrow margin on the second ballot, the people of the West Midlands voted for Andy Street to be the first Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) region. He is one of a new group of ‘metro … Continue reading “Andy Street’s To-Do List: Challenges for the New WMCA Mayor”

The Metro Mayor’s Election – 4 May 2017: A Comment on the Task Ahead for the New Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority

  In this blog, City-REDI’sProf. John Bryson provides his reflections on the day of the first ever West Midland’s Mayoral Election. The 4 May, today, is an important day for the West Midlands and especially for those living in this region that will live or work under the governance structure of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). … Continue reading “The Metro Mayor’s Election – 4 May 2017: A Comment on the Task Ahead for the New Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority”

What characteristics should we look for in the new Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority?

In this blog, Professor John R. Bryson, City-REDI, outlines the eight key qualities a good or successful Metro Mayor for the West Midlands might need. On 4 May 2017, the people living in the geographic area defined by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have the opportunity, for the first time, to elect a mayor. … Continue reading “What characteristics should we look for in the new Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority?”

DevoConnect/City-REDI mayoral hustings: Innovation and Intervention – Igniting the Midlands Engine

Last night @CityREDI hosted the latest in a series of @DevoConnect mayoral hustings at the University of Birmingham’s Business School, chaired by our very own Director, Professor Simon Collinson. A well-attended, stimulating event with some excellent questions it presents an opportune point to reflect on the mayoral process so far and how candidates are shaping … Continue reading “DevoConnect/City-REDI mayoral hustings: Innovation and Intervention – Igniting the Midlands Engine”

West Midlands Devolution: Great Mayoral Debate 2017

City-REDI sponsored an event hosted by Insider last week which brought together the mayoral candidates for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for a debate ahead of the election on May 4th. City-REDI’s Prof. Simon Collinson was there to bring the session to a close, providing a number of key reflections that came out of the … Continue reading “West Midlands Devolution: Great Mayoral Debate 2017”

The Resolution Foundation City Event – ‘A Broken Heart? The living standards challenge facing the West Midlands’

The Resolution Foundation held their event – ‘A Broken Heart? The living standards challenge facing the West Midlands’ – on the 12th December to explore the unique policy challenges facing the West Midlands and the opportunity the new Metro Mayor will face next year in responding to these and driving a new era of inclusive … Continue reading “The Resolution Foundation City Event – ‘A Broken Heart? The living standards challenge facing the West Midlands’”

Question time for Labour’s prospective Metro Mayors at City REDI fringe event

City-REDI sponsored a very successful fringe event at #Lab16 this week, challenging prospective Metro Mayors to take questions from the floor on their vision, priorities and planned policies. Sion Simon MEP (West Midlands), Steve Rotherham MP (Liverpool) and Andy Burnham MP (Greater Manchester) spoke to a packed audience at one of the busiest fringe events … Continue reading “Question time for Labour’s prospective Metro Mayors at City REDI fringe event”