Five flood alerts were in place across the region on Sunday (July 23) after a long spell of heavy rain battered Greater Manchester.
04.07.2023 - 06:05 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Andy Burnham needs to be handed more extensive powers to bring about substantial change in Greater Manchester, according to a new study.
A pair of academics from the University of Huddersfield have published the first comprehensive study of the impact of Mr Burnham as well as his Liverpool City Region counterpart, Steve Rotheram, since they took office in 2017.
However in Devolution in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region - The first mayoral term, the academics also also conclude that while the powers of combined authorities were known to be limited when the original devolution deals were negotiated, the decision to proceed to a metro mayor model was the correct one.
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"The question that we started with was is this going to be a permanent change in English governance, a real kind of constitutional revolution or is it going to be a flash in the pan?", said Professor Blakeley.
"We conclude in the book that whilst the powers that the metro mayors have are limited and they have insufficient resources, it was absolutely the right thing to do to seize that opportunity within the context of an extremely centralised political system.
"There were people in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region who said, 'don't take this opportunity, it's a sham, it's the government devolving austerity'.
"Our conclusion is that whilst we recognise the limitations, it was absolutely the right thing to do to seize that opportunity because it was what was on the table at the time from central government. There wasn't going to be anything else."
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Five flood alerts were in place across the region on Sunday (July 23) after a long spell of heavy rain battered Greater Manchester.
Officers have moved to reassure Mancunians their city centre is safe after shocking video emerged of a brawl on a busy shopping street. Footage shows punches being thrown and kicks lashed out among a group near to Market Street tram stop.
A group of mayors including Andy Burnham have now initiated legal action against train operating companies over controversial plans to close railway station ticket offices. The news was confirmed as a rail union claimed more than 100,000 people across the country have officially responded to the proposals.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have been urged to rethink their decision not to hold an Ashes Test at Manchester’s Emirates Old Trafford in 2027.
Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.
Andy Burnham has called on Sir Keir Starmer to review the controversial two-child benefit cap if Labour wins the next General Election. Sir Keir has faced fierce criticism from within his own party after saying he wouldn't scrap the controversial policy.
Today the fight to save our ticket offices hits full speed.
Andy Burnham and other regional mayors in the north are set to take legal action over the widespread closure of railway station ticket offices, it can be revealed tonight.
A £2.5bn transformation of one part of Salford has moved a step closer. Groundbreaking plans, the first part of a wider project that will change the face of Salford Crescent forever, have been unveiled.
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Hundreds of buses in Greater Manchester upgraded in a bid to bring down pollution might still not be meeting emissions standards. The government is now reviewing whether retrofitting buses at a cost of up to £16,000 each has worked, causing further delays in the region's Clean Air Zone saga.
Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.
Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.
A 'red wall' Rochdale MP is standing down at the next election — only a few years after being voted in.
Manchester is known for its heart-warming community spirit.
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Parts of Greater Manchester have been hit by a huge power cut this morning.