The 2021 Metro Mayors Elections: Localism Rebooted?

Abstract

Metro mayors are the latest addition to the complex jigsaw of subnational governance in England, and were introduced from 2014 to lead, allegedly, a ‘devolution revolution’. This article focusses on the 2021 election to reflect on the roots and first mandate of these new mayors, to understand how they fared at the ballot box, and to assess whether and in what ways they are making an impact. The analysis shows that metro mayors are maturing as institutions, and they are becoming more rooted in the public imagination. Harnessing ‘the power of place’ was a key driver of success: some metro mayors have shown a potential to ‘reboot localism’ and, with it, devolution. However, resistance from central government to let go of power persists and could hinder both the metro mayors’ and the devolution agendas going forward.