RACE FOR MAYOR

political scene. The West Midlands is among six UK regions electing their first metro mayors this week. Prof Copus urged the mayors to join forces and present a united front to Government to demand better deals for the regions.

“Come Monday morning they should be banging on the door of Number 10 – arguing for greater devolution,” he said.

“And they should be working together on a cabinet of mayors.”

He said the Government would find it difficult to ignore such a group of big city mayors and this could be the way to secure better funding and more powers.

There have been warnings that the £79,000-a-year job has only limited powers and a £36 million a year fund covering a narrow remit of housing, job creation and transport policy.

The mayor may also be overruled, or ‘smothered’, by cautious council leaders on the West Midlands Combined Authority.

But Prof Copus said the mayor has the profile and opportunity to expand the role and push on wider issues like health, education and crime.

“It’s a sub-regional mayor covering a vast area with a vast electorate. He or she can use that office to speak for the region on a wide range of issues. If they haven’t got hard powers they are going to have to work through influence, cajoling and bullying others into action.”

He said that the high candidates shows they potential in the role.

He pointed out it is now, almost 20 years on, difficult to think of London being run without a high-profile mayor and that the West Midlands mayor could be the same.

“It’s going to be really interesting seeing how they develop. If they can get things done, then the office will succeed,” he added. calibre of see great