‘We are committed to shifting power out of Whitehall and into our regions,’ local government minister Jim McMahon said.
New mayors in England will be able to appoint up to 32 non-voting associate members, referred to as 'tsars,' to aid in the implementation of policies such as 'active travel.' These mayors will also acquire new powers, including the establishment of key route networks, influence over railway planning, and control over grant funding. The government is currently conducting a public consultation to assess whether these new mayoral authorities will deliver benefits and economic support to their regions. The mayoral elections are set for May 2026 in six areas: Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton. The number of appointees varies by region, with some having up to six and others fewer. This approach is similar to existing practices, such as the Mayor of London's use of special appointees to support policy execution.
