Express & Star

Andy who? Eight in 10 people don't know the identity of the West Midlands Mayor

Eight out of 10 people in the West Midlands have no idea who the region's Mayor is, according to new research.

Published
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street is standing for a second term

With less than two months until the region's second mayoral election, just 22 per cent of 500 people asked named Andy Street as current holder of the position.

And a quarter of those questioned in the Centre for Cities survey were not aware that the region had a Mayor, while five people thought the role was held by Mohammed Azim, who is Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

A total of 77 per cent of people could not name a single policy achievement from Mr Street over the past three years.

Conservative Mr Street was elected as the region's first metro Mayor in 2017, in a poll that saw a turnout of 26.7 per cent. The former John Lewis boss is defending his position in this year's election on May 7.

The research also shows that 80 per cent of respondents were in favour of greater devolution, which would give the Mayor more decision making powers over areas including transport, health and housing.

Indeed, 50 per cent of those asked wanted the Mayor to have more responsibility for providing affordable housing across the West Midlands, while around four in ten want the Mayor to have more greater control over public transport.

The public also wants the Mayor to have more responsibility for skills (38 per cent) and local businesses across the region (34%).

The findings indicate a need for more public information about the office of the West Midlands’ Mayor, their responsibilities and priorities ahead of May’s election and into the next mayoral term.

Researchers at Centre for Cities, an independent think tank which looks at the economies of towns and cities in the UK, say their findings indicate a need for more public information about the Mayor's office ahead of May’s election and into the next mayoral term.

Chief executive Andrew Carter said: "The office of the West Midlands Mayor is just three years old but there is already overwhelming public support for it to be given more powers to improve people’s lives and level up the city-region.

"But as the West Midlands gears up for its second mayoral campaign, there is no escaping the fact that much more public information is needed to inform the public about the Mayor’s work.

"Irrespective of who wins in May, improving transport infrastructure, skills provision and access to housing should be at the top of their agenda."

In this year's election Mr Street faces competition from Lib Dem Beverley Nielsen, Green candidate Kathryn Downs, Liam Byrne for Labour, and independent Ashvir Sangha.