Mayor of the West Midlands

Mayor of the West Midlands
Simon Walker / Deputy Prime Minister's Office · OGL 3 · source
Post	Mayor of the West Midlands
Body	West Midlands Combined Authority
Incumbent	Andy Street
Incumbentsince	8 May 2017
Style	Mayor
Formation	2017
Inaugural	Andy Street
Website	West Midlands Combined Authority

Mayor of the West Midlands is an elected political office created in 2017 to lead the West Midlands Combined Authority and represent the metropolitan county of West Midlands at regional, national and international levels. The office acts as a directly elected civic figure and strategic leader for the conurbation centred on Birmingham, coordinating policy across constituent local authorities including Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The mayor interacts with national institutions such as the United Kingdom Parliament, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and engages with bodies like the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Greater London Authority on urban policy.

History and establishment

The creation of the post followed devolution negotiations between the West Midlands Combined Authority and the UK government under the Conservative Party administration of Theresa May, culminating in a devolution deal signed in 2016 and legislated through the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. Debates drew on precedents such as the Mayor of London and devolved arrangements like the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd, and referenced regional initiatives including the Midlands Engine and the historical Black Country. Key actors in the establishment process included local leaders such as Bob Kerslake (adviser) and politicians from Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats; the inaugural election in 2017 occurred against national contests like the United Kingdom general election, 2017 and the Brexit referendum aftermath.

Powers and responsibilities

Statutory responsibilities derive from the West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016 and subsequent devolution agreements with the UK government and cover transport, strategic planning, adult skills and investment. The mayor chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority and holds mayoral powers to set a strategic transport plan involving entities such as Transport for West Midlands and projects like the West Midlands Metro and rail interventions linked to Network Rail and HS2. The office manages fiscal tools negotiated with the Treasury, including a locally retained business rates pilot, a housing investment fund linked to Homes England, and oversight of skills funding connected to institutions such as University of Birmingham, Coventry University and further education colleges. The mayor represents the region in dealings with international partners like the European Union (pre-Brexit) and national civic bodies including the Local Government Association.

Elections and political officeholders

Mayoral elections use the Supplementary Vote system (formerly) and later switched to First-past-the-post following national electoral reform debates led by the UK Parliament and the Electoral Commission. The first and current incumbent, Andy Street, a former managing director of John Lewis Partnership and candidate for the Conservative Party, was elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, defeating challengers from the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and independent candidates with links to civic groups like Make Votes Matter and Better West Midlands. Previous contests attracted figures from local councils such as leaders of Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, plus national politicians and commentators associated with BBC News and The Guardian.

Governance and administration

The mayor operates alongside the West Midlands Combined Authority’s board composed of leaders from constituent local authorities including Andy Street as mayor and council leaders from Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and others. Administrative functions are delivered by civil servants and officers seconded from councils and organisations such as Transport for West Midlands and the West Midlands Growth Company, and engage with quangos like NHS England for health-related strategic planning and West Midlands Police for public safety coordination. Accountability mechanisms include scrutiny by combined authority overview committees, audit processes referencing the National Audit Office and budget oversight by the Treasury and House of Commons Committee inquiries when required.

Policies and initiatives

Policy priorities have included transport expansion (tram extensions, rail station upgrades, and bus franchising) tied to schemes like the Commonwealth Games infrastructure legacy in Birmingham 2022, housing delivery through brownfield regeneration with partners such as Homes England and urban regeneration projects in the Jewellery Quarter and Dudley Port. Skills and employment programmes have involved collaborations with West Midlands Growth Company, Department for Education, local universities and training providers to support apprenticeships and devolution of adult education budgets. Economic development initiatives reference the Midlands Engine strategy, inward investment campaigns involving UK Trade & Investment predecessors, and green transition measures aimed at net-zero targets aligned with Committee on Climate Change recommendations.

Criticism and controversies

The mayoralty has faced criticism over accountability, spending and transparency from opposition parties including Labour and watchdogs like the National Audit Office, and public debates in outlets such as The Guardian, BBC News and The Financial Times. Controversies include disputes over the pace of housing delivery, the cost and governance of transport projects including procurement linked to contractors like Eltham Construction (example private contractors), tensions with metropolitan borough leaders over devolution settlement terms, and scrutiny of expenses or appointments attracting questions in the House of Commons and local councils. Political criticisms have also arisen during national crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when coordination with NHS England and central government drew media and council scrutiny.

Category:Politics of the West Midlands (county) Category:Mayors of places in England