Plan set to transform funding so English regions no longer rely on Whitehall handouts for projects
There are 14 regional mayors in England, including the mayor of London, with many areas not represented by one. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the first secretary of state, Louise Haigh, defended the devolution plan against accusations that areas with weaker economies and without mayors could lose out on key funding.
She said:
We won’t be imposing mayors to areas that don’t want it but we will be creating strategic authorities in every area of England and they will be able to hold these powers and resources as well.
They don’t need to have mayors in order to control them or in order to retain a share of their income tax and business rates.
