In recent developments concerning local governance in England, journalist Simon Jenkins has expressed criticism of the effectiveness of the country’s 12 “metro mayors,” influencing regions with combined authorities. Created in the 2010s to streamline transport and investment, these positions reportedly suffer from redundancy, overlap with city mayors, and low voter turnout averaging 35%. Jenkins advocates for the abolition of these roles, suggesting a preference for single-authority mayors, as seen in cities like Leicester, Liverpool, and Middlesbrough, which might offer more impactful governance.

On a related note, during recent elections, Labour candidate David Skaith won the North Yorkshire metro mayoralty, defeating Conservative candidate Keane Duncan. The result has apparently unsettled Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who also resides in North Yorkshire, as this positions Labour mayors both in his constituency hometown and his London residence. Criticisms from local Tory MPs like Sir Robert Goodwill target Duncan’s campaign promises, which included radical proposals such as nationalizing the Grand Hotel in Scarborough and establishing a community bank. These initiatives, alongside others like offering half-price homes for first-time buyers, have been cited as potentially alienating to voters, reflected in the Conservative party’s overall performance in the metro mayoral elections, where they secured only one victory.