What might a system of Scottish regional mayors look like ?
Directly elected mayors for the largest English city-regions are now an established feature of the political landscape, prompting proposals for the adoption of similar arrangements in Scotland. These ‘Metro Mayors’ are one element of an evolving approach to devolution within England that aims to address regional inequalities. Advocates of Scottish mayors argue that they have the potential to promote economic growth, govern city-regions more effectively and enhance democratic accountability.
However, there has so far been little serious consideration of what a system of Scottish regional mayors might look like in practice. This article seeks to establish a starting point for a more informed debate, drawing on emerging evidence and critical perspectives on the English experience from a regional development perspective. It identifies challenges in translating a model of devolution that is conceptually based on promoting agglomeration and growth in major urban centres to Scotland’s distinct geography, raising questions about how ‘city-regions’ should be defined and what this might mean for other areas. It also identifies policy areas that could potentially be devolved to the regional level. Although the idea of high-profile city figureheads has attracted attention, there is a broader issue of how different places within Scotland should be governed, with appropriate powers and resources to develop effective policies for regional development.
Scottish Affairs, Volume 34, Issue 3