Express & Star comment: Devolution has been a good thing

Naysayers will always believe that the advent of the metro mayoral system brings with it an unnecessary extra layer of bureaucracy, and it is still common to hear claims that the office's vast budget could be put to better use elsewhere.

However, many would agree that since he was elected West Midlands Mayor in May 2017, Andy Street has done a decent job in putting the region back on the map.

Investment has come forth from central government that would almost certainly not have arrived otherwise. There have been dramatic improvements in the region's economic output, and grand infrastructure developments are changing the face of the region at a rapid pace.

There are still issues that need to be addressed – including low employment in some areas, transport networks and homelessness – but overall the positives to the combined authority system appear to far outweigh the negatives.

Yet there is still the overriding feeling that the way devolution has been set up by the government is akin to ministers dipping their toes in to test the water.

Outside London the powers afforded to our mayors have been limited – and the frustration on the part of Mr Street and his counterparts around the country is tangible.

Lord Heseltine's report calling for mayors to be given far greater powers will come as music to their ears.

By giving regional leaders control of schools, housing and the skills budget among other things, and allowing them to raise taxes on a local level, they will finally have the tools at their disposal to empower their regions.

Britain's notoriously unbalanced economy – which traditionally centres on London and leaves very little for anywhere else – brings the whole country down.

It stifles productivity, and makes the UK a place of restricted growth where year after year, some areas are left behind.

True devolution provides a chance to break that cycle.

The issue will certainly provide food for thought for our next Prime Minister.

But if Mr Hunt or Mr Johnson decide to sign off on the plans, all of our metro mayors should remember one thing.

With power comes great responsibility.