An elected mayor for Lancashire would unlock billions for the region
3 min read
Blackpool has always been somewhat separate from the rest of Lancashire. Geographically, we sit on a limb at the end of the line.
No one passes through here without intention. But culturally, too, we are distinct. Our heritage wasn’t spun from cotton but tread on boards, and illuminated in neon from our famous promenade. Since Romani people first set up fairgrounds on the sand, our population has been transient.
This unique identity, both geographical and cultural, has always set us apart. But it also shapes the specific challenges we face. For years it has made sense for Blackpool to be a unitary authority – a town with control over its own budgets and decisions.
But 14 years of Conservative rule has disempowered local authorities, and £1.4bn has been directly taken from the people of Blackpool. The devastating impact of these cuts is visible at every turn in my constituency. Today, almost 90 per cent of Blackpool council’s budget is swallowed by adult and children’s social care alone. Whether meeting charities, schools, businesses, or individuals, I see daily how deeply our communities are suffering.
Blackpool may be culturally different, but we’ve always had a vital role in Lancashire. For generations, we have offered a place of escapism and entertainment, rest and relaxation for Lancastrians. Blackpool is not an island, and we will not thrive if we continue to act like one.
It’s time for us to build stronger connections with our neighbours and face our challenges together. Blackpool’s struggles are not isolated – they are felt throughout Lancashire. Across the county the need for investment, better public services and economic opportunity is just as pressing.
That challenges are often intensified in Blackpool makes us a strong ally for the rest of Lancashire. The skills, expertise and innovation needed to tackle these shared challenges already exist here, where we have developed creative solutions to our problems. The foundations to building a strong future are already in place in my hometown. What’s desperately lacking is the investment and resources to scale up these efforts.
The current tier two devolution deal, earmarked for Lancashire in 2025 and initially negotiated under the Conservative government, lacks ambition. It’s a deal that will hold Lancashire back, leaving us at a disadvantage compared to our more economically vibrant neighbours of Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
A tier three deal, with an elected mayor as seen in other combined authorities across the North and beyond, will unlock billions of pounds for Lancashire. More importantly, it would bring real power – power that should lie in the hands of local people, not distant politicians in Westminster.
Lancashire as a whole stands to gain from a tier three deal. A fully integrated transport network will close the geographical gap between Blackpool and the rest of the county, making travel more efficient, boosting tourism and allowing us to retain and attract talent. The deal will give us greater control over housing and planning and provide the tools to grow our economy, create jobs, improve living standards and tackle regional inequalities.
Blackpool may be different from the rest of Lancashire, but that doesn’t mean we should go it alone. Our success is intertwined with the success of the wider region, and vice versa. A strong devolution deal will allow us to harness our collective strength and tackle the challenges we face as a united front.
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