Cosla chief: No enthusiasm in Scotland for elected mayors
There is no real enthusiasm for directly elected regional mayor sin scotland like those in Manchester and Liverpool, a senior local government figure has said.
Councillor Steven Heddle, vice-president of Cosla, the council umbrella body, raised concerns such a role would simply become another layer of government. It comes after Andy Burnham, who has been mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, warned Scottish cities are being “held back”. He said cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh would have a “bigger voice” if they had an elected provost or mayor.
There are ten metro mayors in England and Scottish Labour has proposed introducing similar roles in Scotland.
But cllr heddle poured cold water on the idea. Speaking at an event at the Festival of Politics in the Scottish Parliament, he raised concerns about the “impact of another structure”.
He said: “There is a risk, or maybe a reality, that this would become more a presidential role, and you have to ask where the connection with local democracy is at this point.
“I think in Scotland, and the polling informally with political groups at Cosla, there’s not really enthusiasm to return to regionalisation, and there’s not really an enthusiasm for mayors either.”
Cllr Heddle, who was previously the leader of Orkney Islands Council, added: “We do see councils coming together as city regions and as areas in regional growth deals for positive reasons that are showing mutual benefit, and as long as mutual benefit continues, we will come together consensually to do this.”
Mr Burnham visited Edinburgh with Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region. In an interview, he said: !Our perception would be, perhaps, the Scottish cities are being held back, or dis em powered, and not making their presence felt.”