Why Scotland must learn from success of Manchester-style mayors
The SNP need to abandon their centralising instincts and give Scotland’s cities the power to make a real difference to people’s lives
The call by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce for more economic powers to be devolved to the city is hugely welcome. And, given the potential economic benefits, it is one we would make on behalf of all of Scotland’s major cities.
The chamber’s ‘manifesto’ of requests to political parties ahead of the Scottish election states that “the creation and evolution of Mayoral Combined Authority areas, such as Greater Manchester and Liverpool City in England, we believe, shows the power of what can be achieved when regional economic autonomy is enhanced”.
It also argues for “devolved, tailored migration routes” to help tackle “persistent labour shortages” in sectors such as technology, hospitality, construction, health and social care.
The chamber is far from alone in the belief that greater local control can deliver tangible results. A report by the Centre for Cities think tank earlier this year pointed out that Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen had all seen declines in disposable income in recent years, in stark contrast to sizeable increases in cities south of the Border.
Had Scottish cities experienced the same growth as the top-performers in the UK, residents would have each pocketed an extra £12,300, on average, in the ten years to 2023. And if Glasgow had performed as well as comparable European cities, Scotland’s economy would have been 4.6 per cent larger – the equivalent of doubling the size of the oil and gas sector.
READ MORE: How are the likes of Worthing, Barnsley and Doncaster managing to outstrip Scotland’s major cities?
Andy Burnham, the directly elected mayor of Greater Manchester, made his name by being a capable politician but also because he is in charge of a regional authority with sufficient clout to make a real difference to people’s lives. Scotland needs something similar.
The SNP has long been criticised for its centralising instincts. They need to realise that devolving real power to the engine rooms of Scotland’s economy is not a threat but instead a win-win for both the country and their party.
There are few levers available to politicians to make a transformative difference to the economy, but this appears to be one of them. It’s time for Scotland to grasp it with both hands, and let devolved power show its true might.
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