Council leader calls for 2027 mayoral election

A Lancashire council leader has called for an election in 2027 to choose a county-wide mayor, saying it is essential to unlocking the financial benefits of devolution.

Phil Riley, Labour leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Leader, said Lancashire should follow in the footsteps of neighbouring areas such as Greater Manchester.

Lancashire's 15 councils have submitted proposals for local government reorganisation, with the devolution plans due to take effect in 2028.

Mr Riley told the authority's Policy Council this week that several funding announcements in last week's Budget were limited to mayoral authorities, including £9bn for affordable housing.

He said: "Whatever people think of the idea of a mayor - given that everybody in the north of England has one and increasing numbers of counties are lining up for pieces of work in this direction - it makes no sense at all not to.

"I think it's important that we should take every opportunity to try and put the pressure on and do the obvious, sensible thing."

He called for a 2027 mayoral election, suggesting that elections for each of the new local government authorities could be held at the same time.

Mr Riley's proposal was supported by Blackburn with Darwin Council's Conservative group leader, councillor John Slater.

Mr Slater said: "I want this done as soon as possible. The amount of money that went to the combined mayoral authorities in the Budget was phenomenal and the people of Lancashire are missing out."

Lancashire County Council's Reform UK leader, councillor Stephen Atkinson, said after the meeting it was unclear whether additional funds would be "delivered by a mayor".

"Mayors, like in Manchester, charge households additional council tax," he said.

"We always need to put residents at the forefront of our decision-making."

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