Latest news with #ConventionoftheNorth
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lancashire will get elected mayor, Rayner says
After almost a decade of political wrangling, Angela Rayner appears to have confirmed Lancashire will be getting an elected mayor within the next 18 months. During a question and answer session at the Convention of the North in Preston, the deputy prime minister said she understood "the perception" that places without an Andy Burnham-style figurehead may feel left out. "I've been really straight that we want mayors," she said, "and with the new [devolution] priority programme, by May 2026, the whole of the north will have mayors, which is fantastic." Lancashire local authority leaders had previously been asked to come up with proposals for "deeper and wider devolution" by this autumn. Elected mayor system broken and bad for women - MP Lancashire councils given reorganisation deadline County's combined authority officially launched All of Lancashire's 15 councils have been asked to submit initial plans for how they will reorganise themselves into new authorities. The government wants councils to merge to create single unitary authorities to provide all the services in their area under an elected mayor. Devolution minister, Jim McMahon, told the conference: "It's about giving local leaders the power to get on and do the job and a mayor is really important in that, they do make a difference." The devolution white paper, published two months ago, stated that it was the government's "strong preference" that local areas opted for mayor if they did not already have one – but it also held out the alternative prospect of a non-mayoral "strategic authority", like the Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA) that came into being last month, to oversee its existing devolution deal. That "level two" agreement gives Lancashire powers including control of the adult education budget and some aspects of local transport, as well as a one-off £20m innovation fund. However, a top-grade "level three" deal would see the creation of a long-term investment cash pot, with an agreed annual allocation, along with a say over local rail and greater control over brownfield regeneration. The leaders of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils, Lynn Williams and Phil Riley, two of the three current devolution deal signatories, have previously expressed hope and confidence that Lancashire would end up part of the government's devolution priority programme of places where mayors would be in place by next May. Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson, the other devolution partner, has previously stressed the lack of local agreement over a mayor, but had not ventured a particular preference on behalf of her own authority. However, district council leaders are openly split over the issue – with the likes of Chorley's Alistair Bradley and Preston's Matthew Brown having come out in favour of a mayor, but others including Wyre leader Michael Vincent and Ribble Valley's Stephen Atkinson staunchly against. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Devolved powers deal for Lancashire struck New council chief takes top job after unanimous vote MPs want to abolish all of county's 15 councils Lancashire County Council Blackpool Council Blackburn with Darwen Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lancashire will get elected mayor, deputy prime minister says
After almost a decade of political wrangling, Angela Rayner appears to have confirmed Lancashire will be getting an elected mayor within the next 18 a question and answer session at the Convention of the North in Preston, the deputy prime minister said she understood "the perception" that places without an Andy Burnham-style figurehead may feel left out."I've been really straight that we want mayors," she said, "and with the new [devolution] priority programme, by May 2026, the whole of the north will have mayors, which is fantastic."Lancashire local authority leaders had previously been asked to come up with proposals for "deeper and wider devolution" by this autumn. All of Lancashire's 15 councils have been asked to submit initial plans for how they will reorganise themselves into new government wants councils to merge to create single unitary authorities to provide all the services in their area under an elected minister, Jim McMahon, told the conference: "It's about giving local leaders the power to get on and do the job and a mayor is really important in that, they do make a difference."The devolution white paper, published two months ago, stated that it was the government's "strong preference" that local areas opted for mayor if they did not already have one – but it also held out the alternative prospect of a non-mayoral "strategic authority", like the Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA) that came into being last month, to oversee its existing devolution "level two" agreement gives Lancashire powers including control of the adult education budget and some aspects of local transport, as well as a one-off £20m innovation fund. However, a top-grade "level three" deal would see the creation of a long-term investment cash pot, with an agreed annual allocation, along with a say over local rail and greater control over brownfield leaders of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils, Lynn Williams and Phil Riley, two of the three current devolution deal signatories, have previously expressed hope and confidence that Lancashire would end up part of the government's devolution priority programme of places where mayors would be in place by next May. Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson, the other devolution partner, has previously stressed the lack of local agreement over a mayor, but had not ventured a particular preference on behalf of her own district council leaders are openly split over the issue – with the likes of Chorley's Alistair Bradley and Preston's Matthew Brown having come out in favour of a mayor, but others including Wyre leader Michael Vincent and Ribble Valley's Stephen Atkinson staunchly against. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
New European
02-03-2025
- Politics
- New European
Q&A: Is Liz Truss Ok?
The Matts grapple with our former Prime Minister's latest outbursts, dig into a deep mailbag of Burnham questions and speculate wildly on the Oscars this evening. Enjoy! What is Trump's real objective? And what do European leaders do now, as the reality that the President of the United States is not simply indifferent to their fate, but actively hostile. Trump hasn't just abandoned Ukraine – he's actually switched sides and in siding with Russia over the carve up of its territory and […] Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joins the Matts ahead of this week's Convention of the North – the annual meeting of minds focussed on the ongoing revival of the UK's great northern regions and cities. Andy delves deep into the opportunities and challenges facing cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds – emerging from the threat of […] Should the Matts write the briefing notes for Keir Starmer's trip to see Trump? What would Mr Kelly do if a populist Government tried to muzzle The New European? And what should we make of Boris Johnson's silence on matters Ukraine these past few weeks? All these questions and more answered on today's Q&A. Enjoy! […] The Matts are joined by New European columnist Tanit Koch who tells them everything they need to know about the weekend's federal elections in Germany. What are the consequences of the far right AfD's growing support? What difference will a conservative Chancellor make on illegal immigration and the economy – the two burning issues at […] Keir Starmer has pledged British boots on the ground to keep whatever peace Trump and Putin carve up between them over Ukraine. The consequences are staggering and disturbing, as the Matts discover during the course of a tightly argued podcast. Meanwhile, JD Vance openly humiliates European leaders and sends the clearest signal yet that America […]
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Devolution plans will end ‘begging-bowl culture', Rayner tells leaders in North
Angela Rayner has said her devolution plans will end the 'begging-bowl culture' of regional leaders appealing to Whitehall for funds. The Deputy Prime Minister also told leaders in the north of England that mayors are an 'army to take on blockers' to the Government's plans to boost building. The Government is re-organising local authorities and bringing in new mayoral powers under its devolution plans. The Deputy Prime Minister said a newly created 'department-style' funding settlement that gave more than £1 billion of flexible funding to the West Midlands and Greater Manchester will be extended to mayors in Liverpool, the North East, and South and West Yorkshire. 'We are ending the begging-bowl culture and giving local leaders flexibility over their spending,' she told the Convention of the North event in Preston. Ms Rayner, who is also Local Government Secretary, said that putting funding for regeneration in the hands of mayors and moving Homes England to a more regionalised model over time would help in Labour's bid to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament. These measures will form part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that aims to cut red tape and get more building plans approved. 'Mayors are at the centre of our plans to build 1.5 million homes, by giving them the powers they need. Mayors are an army to take on the blockers,' Ms Rayner said. She said the bill, to be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks, would allow councils without mayors to set strategies together for spatial development.
New European
28-02-2025
- Politics
- New European
The heroism of Zelensky
What is Trump's real objective? And what do European leaders do now, as the reality that the President of the United States is not simply indifferent to their fate, but actively hostile. Trump hasn't just abandoned Ukraine – he's actually switched sides and in siding with Russia over the carve up of its territory and mineral wealth, has sealed the coffin lid on what we grew up knowing as The West. Only one man emerges with integrity and understanding of what Trump wants and how to deal with him – President Zelensky of Ukraine. The Matts assess his role in these most extraordinary and turbulent times. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joins the Matts ahead of this week's Convention of the North – the annual meeting of minds focussed on the ongoing revival of the UK's great northern regions and cities. Andy delves deep into the opportunities and challenges facing cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds – emerging from the threat of […] Should the Matts write the briefing notes for Keir Starmer's trip to see Trump? What would Mr Kelly do if a populist Government tried to muzzle The New European? And what should we make of Boris Johnson's silence on matters Ukraine these past few weeks? All these questions and more answered on today's Q&A. Enjoy! […] The Matts are joined by New European columnist Tanit Koch who tells them everything they need to know about the weekend's federal elections in Germany. What are the consequences of the far right AfD's growing support? What difference will a conservative chancellor make on illegal immigration and the economy – the two burning issues at […] Keir Starmer has pledged British boots on the ground to keep whatever peace Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin carve up between them over Ukraine. The consequences are staggering and disturbing, as the Matts discover during the course of a tightly argued podcast. Meanwhile, JD Vance openly humiliates European leaders and sends the clearest signal yet […] Is Labour's immigration posturing the last straw for those who wanted a progressive government? Should Eric Schmidt be listened to about anything? And was the last Liverpool derby at Goodison Park a game for the ages? The Matts ponder all in this Sunday's bonus Q&A episode. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just […]
