Lancashire Mayor is 'when' not 'if' now

Following the publication of the government’s White Paper on Local
Government Reform in December, it seems that it is ‘when’ not ‘if’
Lancashire and other shire areas will have a mayor.

The Deputy Prime Minister in outlining her ambitions for a more dynamic delivery vehicle for her administration’s growth plans, has clearly indicated that she sees devolved powers to Combined Authorities, led by elected mayors, as the way forward.

Some districts in Lancashire will cry foul – but they have been on notice for almost a decade that change was coming, and despite many of them being not fit for purpose for the 21st century, they have buried their heads in the sand, hoping that they could avoid overdue reform.

Meanwhile, neighbours in Manchester, Liverpool, and across the Pennines, have been awarded millions of pounds more than Lancashire, in regeneration, infrastructure, and economic development investment, as a Conservative government recognised the advantages of much bigger, strategic organisations – led by high profile mayoral champions such as Andy Burnham, were best placed to spend that money more effectively.

That Labour agrees with the Tories on this issue is unsurprising, and again due notice was given by Keir Starmer and co in their election manifesto, where a clear commitment to a roll out of devolution and
the mayoral governance model was given.

For those who believe a parochial response and a further digging in of heels will see off this latest attempt to offer Lancashire a modernised governance structure, I would caution them that Angela Rayner is not a
politician to be messed with.

She is clear – she would like local authorities to come forward with their
proposals – but if they are in total opposition to her plans, she will impose a new structure. And that will include a mayor.

For now, the ball is in the county’s court.

Local authorities can - hopefully in consultation with business – provide the government with a pragmatic route map, transitioning from the current quagmire of two unitary councils, 12 districts, and a county council, to a more streamlined, and better resourced mayoral-led combined authority – with three or four unitaries.

Or, they can go into battle with Angela Rayner, which will cost the county time, money – and ultimately defeat.