Event
13 May, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

In conversation with Mayor Richard Parker

Directly elected Mayors, leading increasingly assertive Combined Authorities, are beginning to challenge Whitehall’s monopoly on power in England. They are reshaping how local decisions are made, how resources are allocated and how communities are served. Mayors’ importance looks set to grow, with the Government committed to expanding and deepening devolution throughout England. This raises exciting possibilities for tailored, local solutions to local problems, from housing shortages and transport needs to skills training and climate resilience.   

This also raises important questions around the systems surrounding Mayors. How can they best achieve their goals and deliver on their direct personal mandates? What structures and safeguards are needed to ensure devolution works for all? Do Mayors' teams have the financial and policy capabilities to realise their ambitions? And how should Combined Authorities now evolve? 

Reform is delighted to welcome Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, for an in conversation to discuss his early experiences, the opportunities and challenges of the Combined Authority model, and the future trajectory of devolution in England.

This event is part of our series, ‘Meetings with Mayors’.

You can register for this event here, https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KdEJ2GI4QpK6WvGCKu8ToA.