Manchester should become the first fully devolved city in England, with full control over all public spending, according to new proposals from a think tank.
Devo Max - Devo Manc: Place-based public services, from ResPublica, calls for Greater Manchester to be given the same powers and freedoms as an independent Scotland in order to lead the economic recovery.
Its key recommendations include the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to be given full control of public spending, new powers to reinvest savings locally, control over property taxes and an elected mayor to be introduced within five years.
Phillip Blond, director of ResPublica, said: ‘As a northern, I’m only too aware that we’ve watched England’s cities sliding into decline. This is why England needs devolution. Financial freedom must come to Greater Manchester.
‘Its economy is bigger than should be able to set and get taxes. It should have an elected Mayor. These plans outlined in today’s report, will allow it to turn its fortunes around, lifting the population out of the doldrums.’
The report has been welcomed by chair of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Lord Peter Smith, who said the full devolution model echoes their own ambitions. He said: ‘We welcome the broad thrust of this independent analysis which makes a case for total devolution to city regions on a scale that recognises the game-changing potential to both reduce public spending and boost growth.’
The editor of The MJ, our sister magazine, will be chairingResPublica's fringe programme debating 'The Future of England's Core Cities: Public sector reform and local economic growth'.
