This briefing sets out three policy priorities for the new metro mayor after the election to address the biggest issues facing the economy of the West of England.
In May 2021, Labour’s Dan Norris was elected the metro mayor of the West of England, winning 59.5% of the vote. Second was Conservative candidate Samuel Williams with 40.5%. Turnout was 36.6%. This page brings together the key facts and figures about the West of England economy.
West of England consists of the following local authorities: Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Understanding how the city-region performs on key areas such as productivity and employment helps the metro mayor to assess what he should prioritise. The table below shows how West of England compares to the national average on these indicators.
Below is a summary of the powers the new West of England metro mayor has, based on the devolution deal agreed with the government.
We outlined a set of priorities that the West of England metro mayor should focus on.
Policy priority 1: Build more homes to improve local affordability
Policy priority 2: Cut congestion, clean up the air, and improve public transport
Policy priority 3: Ensure that young people have the necessary skills to benefit from the existing economy, in which Bristol city centre plays a pivotal role
This briefing sets out three policy priorities for the new metro mayor after the election to address the biggest issues facing the economy of the West of England.
Last week, voters in the West of England elected Dan Norris as their metro mayor. Researcher Guilherme Rodrigues takes a closer look at what the mayor will have to do to raise public awareness of his role and support the city-region in its future growth.
Explore the results of the mayoral elections in Greater London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, West of England and West Yorkshire.
What are metro mayors and what do they do?