Midlands Mayoral Manifestos
In May, voters across England will elect 10 metro mayors, the most to date. By 3 May approximately 26 million people, or 44 per cent of the English population will be presided over by a mayor representing more than 50% of English GDP. In the Midlands there will be 2 elections as voters go to the polls in the West Midlands once more and in the East Midlands for the very first time.
With a strong personal mandate, mayors provide a powerful and influential voice, bringing a strategic regional view to crucial policy decisions on areas such as transport, housing, education, strategic planning, and infrastructure, all of which are crucial to growing the economy.? Across England, we see mayors continue to play a vital role in ensuring a region is an attractive place for inward investment and to do business, both for domestic and international firms.
This next round of mayoral elections comes ahead of a hotly anticipated general election and provides an opportunity to build frameworks to deliver growth across regions in key sectors. With both main parties committed to devolution, the CBI will be pushing?for the development of existing settlements and the delivery of funding simplification.
In a nutshell, we’re asking politicians in Westminster to put trust in the regions to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth that aligns with their economic strengths.
A recent report commissioned by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit working with CBI Economics and The Data City suggests that the UK economy grew by 0.1% in 2023 but that the net-zero economy grew by an astonishing 9%. Importantly this growth wasn’t attributed to any one part of the UK but is distributed around the country. In the Midlands, companies in the net zero sector are twice as productive as those in other industries. Across our region there are many opportunities to build on this, in areas such as clean and low carbon energy, with the UK’s largest inland hydrogen cluster in the East Midlands as well as the incoming STEP fusion prototype. There are also opportunities for battery technology and advanced manufacturing, especially around the proposal for a Gigafactory at Coventry Airport, with the West Midlands Investment Zone aimed at increasing incentives for investment. The 2 Midland mayors, working in close collaboration with each other, central and local governments, as well as the private sector have an opportunity to sell our region to the world.
The CBI has long been a strong supporter of devolution and of directly elected mayors. We have seen how mayors can be strong advocates for their region, utilising their convening power to effect meaningful change. Mayors act as ambassadors for their regions – in both national and international contexts. Importantly, they provide the governance and accountability Whitehall needs in order to devolve powers and funding. We will keep pushing politicians to go further on devolution – because we know those closer to the impact are best placed to make the right calls needed to secure opportunities for economic growth in the Midlands. Here at CBI Midlands, we remain committed in our support to the Midlands mayors – to help amplify their voices and provide the business intelligence needed to make thoughtful decisions. Ahead of the mayoral elections we have developed business led manifestos which will help them to drive sustainable economic growth. We look forward to working with the successful candidates and stand ready to help them lead the way in improving the economic prosperity of the Midlands.