Ward: Burnham has created ‘real shift’ on devolution

East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, says a change of Prime Minister has created fresh opportunities for the region as regional devolution gathers pace in England.

This week, Ward was elected by her fellow mayors to chair the UK Mayors Network, the cross-party sector body for strategic authorities, giving the East Midlands a national leadership spotlight as government seeks to push ahead with devolving more power to regions.

After becoming Prime Minister in July, Andy Burnham has made devolution a central pillar of his policy platform, promising to “rewire the state” by transferring power and funding away from Whitehall and into the UK’s regions.

The Government is proposing to give regional mayors a greater share of locally raised taxes and more control over funding and investment, describing its plans as the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation.

“Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, we have seen a real shift in the national conversation about devolution, with Government recognising that decisions are often best made closer to the people they affect,” said Ward.

“That creates a real opportunity to go further. In the East Midlands and across England, regions need the powers, funding and flexibility to tackle the challenges they face and make the most of the opportunities in front of them.

“I look forward to working with mayors from across England and with Government to build on that progress. I want to use this role to make sure the voice of mayors is heard clearly at the heart of Government, and that the benefits of devolution are felt in every part of England.”

Amy Harhoff, East Midlands Combined County Authority chief executive, has taken over as chair of the UK Mayors Network Chief Executives. Credit: EMCCA

Ward assumes the role of chair from Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, after serving as deputy chair for the past two years.

Meanwhile, Amy Harhoff, East Midlands Combined County Authority chief executive, has also taken over as chair of the UK Mayors Network Chief Executives.

“Mayors are working across party lines because we all face many of the same challenges – in the East Midlands and across the country – from improving public transport and building the homes people need, to giving people the skills to get on and backing local businesses to grow,” added Ward.

“People know what works in their communities, and mayors are often best placed to act on that. I want the council to be a strong voice for mayors and for the communities we represent.”