🤔 💡 What is the future of English devolution? Reform was delighted to host an in-conversation with Mayor Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Laura Shoaf, CBE, Chief Executive of West Midlands Combined Authority to discuss the potential of trailblazer deals and combined authorities. It was fantastic to hear perspectives from two combined authorities, with fascinating insights including: - Scrapping HS2 will create a setback for the cause of major infrastructure 🚄 - The Whitehall system creates difficulties with pushing forward infrastructure 🏛 - Place-based projects work and are long termist 🌱 - Contaminated blood scandal shows the terrible dysfunction of Whitehall ❌ - Openness is the key ingredient to the success of trailblazer negotiations 🔥 - A single settlement would enable local government to add 2 and 2 and get 5 💰 👉 Watch the full panel here and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/eTtjuDqb
Chief Executive Officer at West Midlands Combined Authority
1yThank you for the conversation - I really enjoyed it