With elections for councillors and a mayor in 10 places in England on Thursday 2 May 2024, it's time for a nosey around the topic. We are used to devolution in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so let's briefly review what the system of powers devolved to a mayor looks & feels like in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Bristol and the borough of Lewisham. This edition looks at the crises in some of our local councils & the fallout, with an insight from the prospective candidates vying to knock the current West Midlands mayor off the top spot, and of course plenty of voices from voters!

Contributions from 

West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street

Green  party candidate for West Midlands Mayor, Siobhan Harper-Nunes

Labour candidate for West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker

Tina Harrison OBE

Dr Thom Oliver, Senior politics lecturer at the University of West of England, Bristol 

Matty Edwards, Bristol Cable

Voters

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8v36l6d54do