Podcast Summary
Mayors Andy Burnham and Andy Street finding common ground: Despite political differences, mayors Andy Burnham and Andy Street have effectively collaborated for their regions' benefits, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and devolution in tackling UK challenges.
Despite coming from different political backgrounds, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, have found common ground and have been working together effectively for the benefit of their respective regions. They shared their experiences and achievements in their current roles, expressing their enthusiasm and pride in leading their cities. During the podcast, they agreed to share something positive about each other, with Andy Street acknowledging Andy Burnham's political skills and his ability to collaborate with the conservative government. This episode highlights the importance of cooperation and devolution in addressing the challenges facing the UK, even in the context of political differences.
The Role of a Mayor: A Place-First Approach: Mayors are the figureheads and voices for their regions, responsible for addressing long-term issues and championing their unique challenges, while also holding significant executive authority.
Being a mayor involves being the figurehead and voice for a place, with responsibilities over specific areas like transport and policing, but also expected to address any issue that impacts the region long-term. The mayor's role is different from a traditional political job, as it requires a place-first approach, prioritizing the needs of the region over party scripts. While there are similarities between being a CEO and a mayor, such as accountability for results, the mayor has a chief executive and civil service to deliver political instructions. The relationship between the mayor and local authorities depends on the specific area, but the mayor holds significant executive authority. The mayor's job is to champion their region and address its unique challenges, making it a distinct political role.
Mayors as Team Leaders in Combined Authorities: Mayors in combined authorities should focus on leading teams, not working in isolation. They have significant influence but not full control, so they should use their convening power to bring people together and find solutions.
Mayors of combined authorities, like those in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, should view their roles as leading a team rather than working in isolation. These mayors have significant influence over public and private bodies within their city regions, but they don't have full control over every issue. Instead, they should use their convening power to bring people together and find solutions. The strength of these systems lies in the ability to agree on a direction and move forward as a unified team. Mayors are responsible for holding the system accountable, even if they don't have direct control over every issue. The adversarial nature of the Westminster system is different from the collaborative approach required in combined authorities. It's essential to recognize that mayors have the power to bring people together and facilitate conversations to find solutions.
Leading through Challenges: A Mayor's Perspective: Effective leadership involves stepping out of comfort zones, making meaningful connections, and staying committed to authentic solutions despite political games or personal challenges.
Effective leadership requires stepping out of comfort zones and making meaningful connections. Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, shares his experience of facing financial difficulties in Birmingham and the need to rise above political games to focus on positive solutions. He reflects on his time in Westminster politics and how a pivotal moment at Anfield during the Hillsborough disaster led him to change his approach and bring people together to create meaningful change. This introspective perspective, gained from his long career as a politician, allows him to discuss failures and the importance of authentic commitment in driving impactful outcomes.
Leadership evolves with age and surrounding oneself with brilliance matters: Effective leadership can come from behind, age brings wisdom, and surrounding oneself with talented individuals is crucial for personal growth and success.
Personal growth and leadership come with age, and the most effective form of leadership might be leading from behind. Surrounding oneself with brilliant people is crucial advice. Being openly gay is a personal aspect that sets one's values and standards but is generally irrelevant to how one performs in their role. The acceptance and normalization of diverse backgrounds and experiences are essential for a functioning society. The interview process can reveal valuable insights, particularly those related to failure and learning from it. The desire for a different approach to politics, marked by collaboration and moving forward positively, is evident in the popularity of podcasts like this one.
The value of second chances: Mayor Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and being given opportunities to grow, both personally and politically. He also highlighted the benefits of independence and shared cultural connections among English cities.
Second chances are valuable in both personal and political contexts. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, shared a personal story about receiving a second chance when he made mistakes early in his career. He emphasized the importance of learning from experiences and being given opportunities to grow. In the political sphere, Burnham expressed that being part of the governing party as a mayor can be a disadvantage, as there's an expectation to always align with the government's interests. However, he believes that being independent and acting in the best interest of the region can keep people connected to political parties and ultimately benefit everyone involved. The English cities outside of London, such as Birmingham and Manchester, may have distinct strengths and industrial heritages, but they share more commonalities than differences. Burnham highlighted the warmth and humor found in the West Midlands, particularly in Birmingham, which has a significant Irish influence. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of second chances, independence, and the shared cultural connections among English cities.
Manchester and West Midlands: Similar Challenges: Both Manchester and West Midlands share similar population sizes, economic outputs, and face similar challenges. Manchester's entrepreneurial spirit and social conscience contrast with West Midlands' loss of confidence during deindustrialization, but both regions have unique strengths and cultural capital to leverage.
Despite some historical differences between Manchester and the West Midlands, such as their industrial heritages, the two regions face similar issues today. The data shows that their population sizes, economic outputs, and challenges are almost identical. Manchester's confidence and entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with its social conscience, have contributed significantly to the world. The West Midlands, on the other hand, lost confidence during the deindustrialization process and had to catch up. However, both regions have unique strengths and cultural capital that make them valuable. Recent political events have highlighted the potential for tension between local and national governments, but it's important to remember the commonalities and work towards solutions that benefit both regions.
Decentralization of Power in the UK: A Work in Progress: Mayors of large city regions in the UK are advocating for more autonomy and the ability to raise their own revenues to improve living standards and economic growth. They aim to follow the German example of a written constitution ensuring basic equivalence of living standards.
The decentralization of power from the national government to city regions in the UK is a relatively new concept and a work in progress, with the goal being to improve living standards and economic growth in these areas. Mayors of large city regions, like Andy Street and Dan Andrews, have been successful in securing funding from the government but are advocating for more autonomy and the ability to raise their own revenues. The ultimate goal is to follow the German example of a written constitution that ensures a basic equivalence of living standards across different parts of England. This would require a radical shift in British politics and would be a significant change for a country that has been historically centralized. The mayors emphasized the need for respect from the national government and for local leaders to put the interests of their regions first, even if it means differing from their party. The conversation underscored the importance of decentralization for the UK's economic and political development.
Shifting economic priorities for English city regions: To promote growth in English city regions beyond the southeast, the economic model must prioritize social justice and environmental concerns alongside financial return.
The current economic model in the UK, which prioritizes financial return over social justice and environmental concerns, needs to change in order to promote growth in English city regions outside of the southeast. This was highlighted during a spending review in 2007, where projects were prioritized based on economic growth, leading to underinvestment in areas outside of the southeast. Roy and Katty discussed the need to shift the economic model to include the social case for investment, as well as the economic one. Anthony shared a personal story about donating to Obama's campaign in 2008 and being asked to double the donation in exchange for a personal connection, which led him to deepen his involvement in politics. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of reevaluating economic priorities to create a more equitable and prosperous country.
The complexities of 'levelling up' in politics: Despite debates over its substance, progress has been made towards more equitable distribution of resources. A decentralized and flexible approach could lead to better outcomes, but significant investment and resources are needed.
The concept of "levelling up" in politics, particularly in the context of the UK, has been a topic of debate due to its perceived lack of substance. Some argue that it has been used as a hollow slogan without a clear strategy, while others believe that progress has been made in recent years towards more equitable distribution of resources and investment outside of major cities like London. The discussion also touched upon the importance of agency and decision-making power at the local and regional levels for effective implementation of industrial strategies. The speakers agreed that a more decentralized and flexible approach could lead to better outcomes, but they also acknowledged the need for significant investment and resources to truly bridge the gap between regions. Overall, the conversation highlighted the complexities and challenges involved in implementing meaningful change towards a more equitable and productive economy.
Empowering Greater Manchester's Industrial Strategy: Greater Manchester focuses on logistics, professional services, aerospace, electric vehicles. Advocates for devolved technical education, creating a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate. Adapting to Brexit challenges, potentially shifting focus from EU to growing economies.
Greater Manchester's industrial strategy focuses on capitalizing on competitive advantages in sectors like logistics, professional services, aerospace manufacturing, and electric vehicle manufacturing. To support this, they are advocating for a devolved approach to technical education, aiming to create a Greater Manchester Baccalaureate and parity between academic and technical routes for young people. Despite the challenges brought about by Brexit, including damage to industries like music and exports, there is a sense of empowerment in the region due to the democratic decision-making process. Looking forward, the focus is on recovering economically and adapting to the changing global landscape, potentially shifting focus away from the European Union and towards other growing economies.
Cities Driving Global Economic Changes: Manchester and Birmingham's Potential: Cities like Manchester and Birmingham have global potential due to their football brands, past major event hosting, and skilled talent. Long-term political leadership is crucial for realizing opportunities and reindustrializing regions.
Cities are driving the global economy's most significant changes in the 21st century, focusing on digitalization and decarbonization. Birmingham and Manchester, as English cities, are not fully leveraging their potential on the world stage. The relationship between cities and their neighbors, as well as diplomacy and people-to-people connections, are crucial for progress. India, as a major investor in advanced manufacturing sectors, has shown significant interest in the UK's universities and skilled talent. Cities like Manchester and Birmingham, with their global football brands and past successful hosting of major events like the Commonwealth Games, have the potential to boost their economies and international reputation. Long-term tenure in political positions allows for the realization of these opportunities and the reindustrialization of regions like the West Midlands and the North of England.
Hosting major events leads to city transformation: Hosting events like Olympics or international conferences brings long-term benefits such as infrastructure creation, economic growth, and global recognition.
Hosting major events, such as the Olympics or international conferences, can bring significant long-term benefits to a city. Manchester, for instance, saw a massive transformation after hosting the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which led to the creation of infrastructure, economic growth, and the rise of its football clubs as global brands. The city's cultural capital, including Peaky Blinders and its football clubs, is now recognized worldwide, making Manchester a "colossal football power" and a sought-after destination for international visitors and businesses. Hosting such events not only showcases a city's strengths but also attracts investment, creates jobs, and fosters cultural exchange.
Utilizing Local Leaders for Positive Change: Local leaders like Burnham, Street, and Khan have distinct approaches and strengths that could greatly benefit the UK if central parties support them effectively. Non-politicians can sometimes be more effective due to their passion, and recognizing and harnessing their unique abilities is crucial for driving positive change.
Local leaders like Andy Burnham, Andy Street, and Sadiq Khan have unique approaches to governance and delivering results, which could greatly benefit the UK if the central parties embrace their differences and provide them with the necessary resources. Burnham, for instance, has found a new way of doing politics, and his charisma and confidence could be valuable assets for Labour if they are utilized properly. The second challenge is that sometimes, the parties may seem overly controlling and not making the most of these local leaders. Moreover, non-politicians like Andy Street can sometimes be more effective in implementing policies due to their genuine passion for their work. The interview with the potential pairing of the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors could also lead to insightful discussions, despite potential tensions. Overall, it's crucial for the parties to recognize and harness the unique strengths of local leaders to drive positive change.
