Should every major city have a Mayor?
Wed 20 Apr 2016, 19:00 - 21:00
- Venue
- The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
In the run-up to the London Mayoral Elections, the British Academy will be holding an event that will look at how the role of the London Mayor has changed governance and decision-making within London, and has changed the representation of London within the UK. Are city mayors essential for running major cities, or are they expensive figureheads that are not affordable or needed in many UK cities? Are mayors an effective route for bringing policymaking to a more local level, or do they bring too much focus to cities, neglecting the needs of other parts of the UK?
We will hear from Lord Prescott who led the government department that drafted the initial policy for the London Mayor and regional governance. What was that policy intended to achieve? Does he feel that the role of London Mayor has been a success? What is Lord Prescott’s vision for the future of democratic local governance? Professor Tony Travers will speak on the evidence of the impact of the London Mayor, and Professor John Curtice FBA will discuss the levels of democratic support around the UK for city mayors. This chaired panel discussion will provide an in-depth analysis of the value of mayors in providing local governance and enabling regional devolution.
Speakers:
Lord Prescott of Kingston upon Hull Former Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State
Professor Tony Travers London School of Economics and Political Science
Professor John Curtice FBA Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde
Chaired by Sue Cameron, Journalist