CBI mayoral election manifestos 2024

The success of London is pivotal to the success of the country, with our capital’s economy helping to generate opportunity across every UK region and nation. As an engine of prosperity, creativity, and innovation, London’s standing is essential to the UK’s global reputation and future competitiveness. And today, it has a vital role to play in the most pressing issues facing our economy and society.

Our nation’s capital, London, must be empowered to ensure it has the tools necessary to compete with its international peers, including Paris, New York and Tokyo. To better equip London to compete internationally, the CBI recommends that the next mayor pledges to work with Government to advance the objective of realising a “trailblazer” devolution settlement, akin to the deals recently agreed with both West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities. This would provide greater fiscal autonomy and longer term funding certainty.

Looking ahead to a new era of devolution, the CBI has also identified five key policy priorities for a newly elected mayor that will help safeguard the region as great place in which to live, work and do business:

• Driving regional investment
• Future-proofing the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Driving regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Driving high-growth technology and innovation
• Delivering resilient public services

Read the full Greater London Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event with BusinessLDN, FSB, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Institute of Directors on Tuesday, 16 April. For more information, please contact your CBI Account Manager.

With a population of over 2.8 million, the location of the UK’s first Combined Authority and devolution deal, and an economic potential exceeding all other UK city regions, Greater Manchester continues to be at the epicentre of regional economic growth. From Health innovation and advanced material manufacturing to digital and creative sectors and the green economy- all underpinned by an established education, housing and services sector- the economy of Greater Manchester is primed for growth.

However, businesses operate in tough economic conditions: high-interest rates, rising costs, a tight labour market, and fluctuating demand. In many respects, our region – and its mayor – must not take growth for granted and continue to work hard to tackle intraregional inequality and reinforce our region’s economic foundations.

Most importantly, the mayor must use their mandate to relentlessly promote and pursue an ambitious, long-term regional economic vision that recognises existing strategic assets and clusters, inspires inward investment and tourism, and differentiates Greater Manchester’s narrative in a competitive domestic and global market. In pursuing greater regional prosperity, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) must identify the region’s most significant economic strengths and unashamedly back emerging success stories.

Public and private sector collaboration is a critical component of all these priorities; a strong industry voice, through the Business Board and other advisory groups, is essential.

Read the full Greater Manchester Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Wednesday, 17 April. Click here for more information.

Since the inception of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in 2016, the region has been progressing on a devolution journey. The latest development on that journey was the announcement in the spring of 2023 that the West Midlands would receive a trailblazer devolution deal, something the CBI called for in our budget submission. We welcome the steps to hand more powers, funding and autonomy from Whitehall to the West Midlands mayor.

The CBI is a strong advocate for devolution and will continue to work with the Mayor and WMCA colleagues as the devolution journey continues. Businesses in the West Midlands value having a mayor that can promote and represent the region on the economic stage, as well as listen and work closely with them on key issues such as transport, housing and skills. We are also engaging in conversations around the future possibility of fiscal devolution to the region, what form that would take and how this would impact business.

Following the success of the Commonwealth Games in 2022, there was a feeling that Birmingham and the wider West Midlands had a spring in its step. But with the recent news surrounding the bankruptcy of the City Council, sluggish growth and tough economic headwinds, the next Mayor needs to deliver the right economic conditions for businesses to thrive and get the region back on track. The CBI has identified five key priorities for the next Mayor:

• Drive regional investment
• Future-proof the regional labour market
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Deliver resilient public services.

Read the full West Midlands Mayoral Manifesto.

Liverpool City Region has a dynamic, vibrant, and competitive economy, leading the way in the digital and creative sectors, health and life sciences and green industry. Even set against the backdrop of tough economic conditions with the recovery from COVID-19, high-interest rates, a tight labour market and rising costs, the city region demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has played a vital role in developing and safeguarding the region's future prosperity, working closely with businesses, its constituent local authorities, and the government to ensure Liverpool City Region is a place where firms, individuals and communities can thrive.

However, challenges persist despite the region's success in narrowing the gap in several national metrics, such as creating 67,620 jobs between 2010 and 2022. This is particularly the case in areas such as productivity, which continues to decrease by an average of 0.8% annually. While this can be explained by external factors such as those explored above, it demonstrates that a newly elected Mayor cannot take economic growth for granted. They must relentlessly promote and pursue an ambitious, long-term regional economic vision that recognises existing strategic assets and clusters, inspires inward investment and tourism, and differentiates Liverpool City Region's narrative in a competitive domestic and global market.

The Mayoral election in May will be a pivotal moment for the Liverpool City Region. Pursuing a Tier 4 devolution deal could grant expanded powers and a single funding settlement to realise the LCR Plan For Prosperity, building a fairer, stronger, cleaner and more prosperous city region. The CBI has identified five key priorities for the newly elected Mayor:

• Drive regional investment
• Future-proof the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Deliver resilient public services.

Read the full Liverpool City Region Mayoral Manifesto.

West Yorkshire stands as a vibrant hub of innovation, invention, and creativity. This region, steeped in a rich industrial history, has evolved into a dynamic centre where tradition meets cutting-edge advancements. The confluence of diverse industries, a skilled workforce, and a culture that fosters creativity has propelled West Yorkshire to the forefront of innovation.

Innovation districts, research centres, and collaborative spaces dot the landscape, including the recent announcement for a new Government sponsored Investment Zone, collectively bringing together minds from academia, industry, and the community. This collaborative approach fosters a dynamic ecosystem where ideas are shared, refined, and transformed into tangible advancements. Yet despite these plaudits and accolades, West Yorkshire still lags behind the UK average for productivity; even within the region productivity is not evenly distributed. Progress has clearly been made to address some of the barriers to economic growth and improve productivity, but the region is still in its devolution infancy with more progress to look forward to.

The CBI is a strong advocate for devolution and will continue to work with the Mayor and WYCA colleagues as the devolution journey continues. Businesses in West Yorkshire value having a mayor that can promote and represent the region on the world stage, as well as listen and work closely with them on key issues. Within this manifesto we set out our priorities for growth which are:

• Drive regional investment from home and overseas
• Future-proof the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Delivery of resilient public services and fit for purpose infrastructure.

Read the full West Yorkshire Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Tuesday, 16 April. Click here for more information.

The Tees Valley, straddling the River Tees from Darlington to the coast at Redcar & Cleveland, incorporates vibrant towns like Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, and Hartlepool. With a heritage coastline, market towns, nature reserves, and a thriving creative and cultural sector alongside its industrial heartland, the Tees Valley is a dynamic region.

Notably excelling in services, health, advanced manufacturing, chemicals, and the digital industry, these strengths significantly contribute to the local economy, positioning the Tees Valley as a hub for innovation and sustainable growth.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) plays a crucial role in shaping the region's future, fostering economic prosperity, and making the Tees Valley a place where businesses, communities, and individuals can thrive and grow. Since its creation in 2016, the TVCA has seen significant investment, establishing itself as a presence on the national and international stage.

Critically, the Tees Valley has all the ingredients to be a globally recognised green economy; a status that must be pursued tenaciously, in a way that values people as much as physical infrastructure.

The Mayoral election in May is a pivotal moment for the Tees Valley. Pursuing a Tier 4 devolution deal could grant expanded powers and a single funding settlement to realise the Tees Valley Strategic Economic Plan’s vision: 25,000 jobs and £2.8 billion added to the economy by 2026.

The CBI has identified key priorities for the newly elected mayor:

• Drive regional investment
• Future-proof the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Delivery of resilient public services and fit for purpose infrastructure.

Read the full Tees Valley Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Tuesday, 26 March. Click here for more information.

The mayoral elections in May will mark the start of the devolution process in the East Midlands, with a mayoral deal for Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Derbyshire after years of negotiation. The CBI is a strong advocate for devolution and worked with partners on securing the East Midlands mayoral deal, as well as supporting at the official consultation stage.

In other regions in the country where devolution is already established, we have seen the value of having a mayor who can act as an economic ambassador for the region and work with businesses on key economic issues. Looking ahead to the future, we would want to see more powers and funding devolved from Whitehall to the East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA), and as such would encourage the mayor to seek Tier 4 devolution powers from Government at the earliest opportunity, as we have called for in our Spring Budget submission.

The East Midlands is a region of diverse strengths, the region showed resilience throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the smallest economic contraction between 2019 and 2021 of any English region.

Looking ahead to a new era with devolution, the CBI has identified five key priorities for the next Mayor to provide the economic framework for business to thrive:

• Drive regional investment
• Future proof the regional labour market
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Deliver resilient public services

Read the full East Midlands Mayoral Manifesto.

From biotech to construction, advanced manufacturing to screen, digital tech to renewable energy – and underpinned by an established education, housing, and services sectors – the North East economy is primed for growth. However, businesses operate in tough economic conditions: high interest rates, rising costs, a tight labour market, and fluctuating demand. In many respects, our region – and its Mayor – must work harder to continue narrowing the gap between national performance metrics and intraregional disparities.

To succeed, the Mayor must prioritise:

• Skills development and mobility: consolidating a complex system into a single regional skills plan, co-created with industry to generate a talent pipeline, and use transport powers to optimise the connection between people, training and jobs
• Industrial decarbonisation: championing both the environmental and economic prizes, and marketing our most significant investible propositions to both UK government and international investors
• Technology adoption and innovation to transform sluggish regional productivity: recognising the correlation between innovation eco-systems and economic health, without hampering innovation potential through a purely ‘grants-for-jobs’ approach
• Business support with a simplified regional-by-design approach:  capitalising on economies of scale to commission high-quality, fit-for-purpose services accessible through one front door.

Most importantly, the Mayor must use their mandate to relentlessly promote and pursue an ambitious, long-term regional economic vision. This should recognise existing strategic assets and clusters, inspire inward investment and tourism, and differentiate the North East narrative in a competitive domestic and global market. In pursuing greater regional prosperity, the North East must identify the region’s most significant economic strengths and unashamedly back emerging success stories- showcasing the region will be a vital part of any successful mayor’s programme of activity.

Public and private sector collaboration is a critical component of all these priorities; a strong industry voice – through the Business Board and other advisory groups – is essential.

Read the full North East Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Thursday, 28 March. Click here for more information.

This election marks a significant milestone in the economic future of York & North Yorkshire. Full credit to the politicians who have brought about the formation of the new Combined Authority, we know this was not an easy process so as a business community we must get behind this new institution and ensure it can deliver the outcomes to drive forward this part of the country.

York & North Yorkshire joins 11 devolved English regions to have directly elected mayors, and as we look to the future, we have set out a range of opportunities that we feel will boost the regional economy and give businesses access to the skills & talent, infrastructure, and opportunities to succeed.

The geography of York & North Yorkshire differs from existing Mayoral Combined Authorities in that it is not dominated by an urban city region. Instead, the economic geography is a more an archipelago of economic centres, some of which look outwards to the regions around them, including Teesside, West Yorkshire, and Hull & East Riding. Despite this there are themes which emerge as universal barriers to growth across all parts of the region, which a future mayor will need to grasp if they are to build a stronger and more sustainable economy. Similarly, there is a high degree of shared endeavour, which a future mayor should tap into and bring the public and private sector together on areas that will generate mutual benefit. Ahead of the Mayoral Election, business leaders and the mayor can act on the emerging consensus that unites them, that is to deliver sustainable economic growth which improves our standard of living today and in the future.

Most importantly, the mayor must use their mandate to relentlessly promote and pursue an ambitious, long-term regional economic vision that recognises existing strategic assets and emerging economic clusters, inspires inward investment and tourism, and differentiates the York & North Yorkshire narrative in a competitive domestic and global market. Public and private sector collaboration is a critical component of all these priorities; a strong industry voice – through the Business Board and other advisory groups – is essential. Ensuring there is a strong business voice, that is truly representative of York and North Yorkshire, advising and supporting mayoral decision making, building on the YNY LEP should be a priority for the incoming mayor.

Our priorities are:

• Drive regional investment
• Future-proof the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Drive high-growth technology and innovation
• Delivery of resilient public services and fit for purpose infrastructure.

Read the full York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Wednesday, 10 April. Click here for more information.

Since its formation, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), has increasingly cemented its position in both regional and national politics, playing a leading role in driving strategic economic development and driving inward investment.

South Yorkshire is home to many economically significant assets, which play a key role in the UK economy – for example, world-leading universities, and a burgeoning business community centred around healthcare, including a significant healthtech cluster focused on orthopaedics and medical devices. Rooted in its industrial past, the region has a proud economic heritage that has played an integral role in the success and development of the UK’s economy. In recent decades, South Yorkshire’s economy has transformed, as its focus has shifted towards modern industries, advanced manufacturing for example, enabling the region to continue to play a pivotal role in a 21st Century economy. Recognising the region’s distinctive strengths, and building on these, can further drive sustainable growth, increase inward investment and generate jobs.

The mayor must use their mandate to relentlessly promote and pursue an ambitious, longterm regional economic vision that recognises existing strategic assets and emerging economic clusters, inspires inward investment and tourism, and differentiates the South Yorkshire narrative in a competitive domestic and global market.

To better equip South Yorkshire going forward, the mayor should pledge to work with the Government to advance the objective of realising a “trailblazer” devolution settlement, akin to the deals recently agreed with both West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities. This would provide greater fiscal autonomy while providing longer-term funding certainty.

Looking ahead to a new era of devolution, the CBI has identified five key policy priorities for a newly elected mayor that will help safeguard the region as a great place to live, work and do business, these include:

• Driving regional investment
• Future-proofing the regional labour market to drive inclusive growth
• Driving regional climate commitments to help the UK deliver net zero
• Driving high-growth technology and innovation
• Delivery of resilient public services

Read the full South Yorkshire Mayoral Manifesto.

The CBI will be hosting a joint hustings event on Friday, 19 April. Click here for more information.