Andy Burnham needs 'more extensive powers to bring about substantial change' in Greater Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Andy Burnham needs to be handed more extensive powers to bring about substantial change in Greater Manchester, according to a new study.

A pair of academics from the University of Huddersfield have published the first comprehensive study of the impact of Mr Burnham as well as his Liverpool City Region counterpart, Steve Rotheram, since they took office in 2017.

However in Devolution in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region - The first mayoral term, the academics also also conclude that while the powers of combined authorities were known to be limited when the original devolution deals were negotiated, the decision to proceed to a metro mayor model was the correct one. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. "The question that we started with was is this going to be a permanent change in English governance, a real kind of constitutional revolution or is it going to be a flash in the pan?", said Professor Blakeley. "We conclude in the book that whilst the powers that the metro mayors have are limited and they have insufficient resources, it was absolutely the right thing to do to seize that opportunity within the context of an extremely centralised political system. "There were people in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region who said, 'don't take this opportunity, it's a sham, it's the government devolving austerity'. "Our conclusion is that whilst we recognise the limitations, it was absolutely the right thing to do to seize that opportunity because it was what was on the table at the time from central government.

There wasn't going to be anything else." Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link The government