'It's about bloody time': Lancashire mayor on the horizon after government budget announcement

Lancashire finally appears to be on a one-way street to getting an elected mayor.

In papers published as part of the Chancellor’s budget on Wednesday, the county was listed as one of 10 areas with which the government is “in the final stages of agreeing…mayoral strategic authorities”.

It is the first time Lancashire has been placed in that advanced category - and the Lancashire Post understands that if those negotiations come to a successful conclusion, an election to select a mayor will be staged in May 2028.

It comes more than a decade after Lancashire first started to consider adopting the mayoral model, prompting Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams to declare: “It’s about bloody time!”

The creation of a political figurehead for the county will bring with it additional local powers and central government cash - with a sum in the region of £35m a year over 30 years having recently been posited by devolution minister Jim McMahon.

However, the Post understands that the government has indicated Lancashire will start receiving shares of the funding pots that are reserved for mayors from 2027 - before the post-holder is in place. It also appears to be in line for an advance on its overall mayoral settlement.

As the Post revealed earlier on Wednesday, the members of the Lancashire County Combined Authority (LCCA) devolution body - which oversees Lancashire’s existing, non-mayoral devolution deal - wrote to Mr. McMahon just days before Chancellor John Healey was due to deliver his budget.

The letter was a response to an invite to set out the county’s further devolution ambitions, beyond those in areas such as transport, which it has been able to fulfil since the LCCA was established in February 2025.

Its contents were sufficient to shift Lancashire into formal talks with the government about the exact shape of the deal it now wants to pursue.

The county’s own internal debate about the benefits - or otherwise - of having a mayor began in earnest back in 2016. Unanimous agreement between its 15 council leaders has almost always proved elusive ever since.

The odds of the county’s many parts getting on the same page over a mayor were increased when the number of authorities whose consent was needed were reduced to the constituent members of the LCCA - Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council.

However, while the Labour leaders of the latter two - Phil Riley and Lynn Williams - have been keen proponents of a mayor, the Reform UK leader of the county council, Stephen Atkinson, has been more sceptical. He has expressed concern that the day-to-day costs of running the mayoralty could have to be funded via an extra charge on council tax bills - although the majority of existing mayors rely solely on government capacity funding.

County Cllr Atkinson - who chairs the LCCA - has also pushed for a legally-binding referendum on the subject - a request to which the government has never agreed.

In a statement after the budget papers were published, he said: "This is an important step forward for Lancashire. Securing greater investment is vital if we are to deliver better opportunities, stronger communities and sustainable growth for our residents and businesses.

“We are expecting more information from the government next week - and as a CCA, we will consider the proposals before deciding on next steps.

“It is vital that Lancashire residents also have a voice in any discussions about further devolution and as we develop the proposals, we will undertake widespread consultation with residents and business.

“We will always put the people of Lancashire front and centre before making decisions about the county’s future."

Speaking to the Post, Cllr Williams said it had been “frustrating” that Lancashire had not had mayoral status to capitalise on the Growth Plan it produced a year ago.

The economic growth [a mayor will bring] is going to be a real game-changer, because there is so much going on in Lancashire. We just needed this potential [to be fully realised] - so this is incredibly exciting for the county.

“It isn’t just about the money, which is incredibly important - but it's the powers that come with it and now we can fully understand and explore what that could give to us,” Cllr Williams said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Riley told the Post he was "absolutely delighted” Lancashire was on the path to a mayor.

“It is absolutely the right thing to do. It starts to help Lancashire bridge the gap that has developed in recent years between us and our near neighbours in Manchester and Liverpool - and we all know what's happened in those places in the last 10 years.

“We've now got to start to make sure that we do sensible, enterprising and transformational things in Lancashire,” Cllr Riley added.

As of next May, the county will still become the only place in the North of England not to have a mayor - but an end date for that island status is now very much in sight.

‘It’s the future’

South Ribble’s Labour MP Paul Foster said of the mayoral announcement: “Lancashire now has a huge, once-in-a-generation opportunity - we have the chance to unlock up to £1bn in investment for our county.

“That means better transport, more jobs, new business opportunities and regeneration for our towns and communities. A mayor for Lancashire would give us a stronger voice with government and more power to shape our own future.

“This is our chance to be ambitious, attract investment and deliver real change. This is our kids' future, we can’t let it pass us by. There are no excuses anymore - let’s make it happen.”

The North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce learned of the mayoral plans during a budget lunch it was staging for businesses at Preston North End’s Deepdale ground.

Chief executive Babs Murphy said: "The Chamber has consistently called on the government to back business growth through investment in skills, infrastructure, productivity and local economic decision-making. Today's announcement on Lancashire's Strategic Mayoral Authority status is a significant step forward and has the potential to unlock new opportunities for investment, growth and stronger local leadership across the county.

“Businesses across Lancashire have long argued that decisions affecting their communities and economies should be taken closer to home. Greater local control can help ensure that investment is targeted where it will have the greatest impact and that the voice of business is better reflected in future priorities.

“However, employers will judge this budget on outcomes rather than announcements. Businesses continue to face rising employment costs, skills shortages, inflationary pressures, energy costs and uncertainty around future regulation. While the extension of business rates relief will be welcomed, it is not, on its own, a game-changing measure for growth.

“This was largely a budget of continuity rather than one of major reform. The real test will be whether the government can translate these commitments into improved infrastructure, stronger skills provision, support for investment and policies that help businesses grow, compete and create jobs.”

LANCASHIRE’S LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO A MAYOR

June 2016 – Lancashire forms a shadow combined authority, chaired by then Blackpool Council leader Simon Blackburn, with Chorley Council leader Alistair Bradley as vice-chair. It is seen as the first step on the road to devolution, via closer co-operation between the county’s 15 councils – but Wyre Council declines to join over disquiet about the prospect of an elected mayor, seen as a likely requirement of any deal.

February 2017 – Fylde Council walks away from the shadow combined authority, stating that there is not enough to be gained from a potential deal.

July 2017 – Ribble Valley Borough Council also withdraws over concern about an elected mayor and whether district authorities would have a veto in any future devolved arrangements.

September 2017 – Cllr Blackburn says that there is interest amongst Lancashire’s councils in a little-noticed pledge in the Conservative Party election manifesto suggesting that a mayor would no longer be a prerequisite of a devolution deal.

October 2017 – then Northern Powerhouse minister and Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry says it is not up to the government to “dictate” what a devolution deal for Lancashire should look like – and confirmed that a mayor would not be demanded.

2019 – the shadow combined authority is replaced by Lancashire leaders’ group, chaired by then Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver. All 15 councils are at the table for monthly meetings, which are not solely focused on devolution.

June 2020 – all 15 Lancashire leaders support “the principle” of exploring the formation of a combined authority with an elected mayor, who would have only “limited powers”. It was the first time there had been a unanimous decision on those issues. They also acknowledge that Lancashire’s complex council arrangements may need to be simplified if a combined authority is formed – known as “local government reorganisation”.

July 2021 – then Prime Minister Boris Johnson promises to “rewrite the rule book” on devolution, seemingly offering places like Lancashire the chance to strike bespoke devolution deals with the government.

January 2022 – all 15 councils agreed the first detailed blueprint for devolution in the county, but now once again minus an elected mayor and local government reorganisation. Proposal for a £5.6bn transfer of funding to the county’s control.

February 2022 – Lancashire not named in a list of the next nine areas with which the government intends to pursue devolution discussions. The Levelling Up White Paper sets out three ‘levels’ of devolution deal – with the most extensive ‘level 3’ agreements requiring the creation of an elected mayor.

November 2022 – launch of “Lancashire 2050” vision, setting out key priorities for the county and seen as a springboard for devolution discussions

June 2023 – the government sets a turbocharged timetable for doing a deal with Lancashire, with the aim of forming a combined county authority (LCCA) made up of the three top-tier councils: Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Discontent amongst some district leaders who claimed that they had been locked out of the process.

November 2023 – government publishes level 2 devolution proposal for Lancashire, which will now be subject to ratification by the top-tier councils and public consultation.

May 2024 - Then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls a general election - meaning the legislation to make Lancashire’s devolution deal official is delayed.

September 2024 - the new Labour government announces it is going to implement, rather than reinvent, the devolution deal agreed by the Conservatives. But the LCCA was asked to bring proposals for a deeper arrangement by the following autumn.

May 2025 - Reform UK take control of Lancashire County Council from the Tories, with a promise of seeking a legally-binding referendum on an elected mayor.

June 2025 - Government declines to commit to the requested referendum.

October 2025 - the LCCA seeks confirmation from the government of the “clear and substantial benefits” that would come with a mayor.

December 2025 - the government tells Lancashire the answer to its question lies in existing legislation, but then devolution Miatta Fahnbulleh minister adds: “These [additional] powers will give local leaders in Lancashire the tools to drive growth for the benefit of the communities you serve.”

March and May 2026 - two planned meetings between the LCCA and the government are cancelled by ministers, with no fresh date set.

August 2026 - Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson expresses concern about the potential need for a council tax ‘precept’ to fund the running costs of a mayoral office. He also stresses that the county needs to know what it will get in terms of an enhanced devolution deal before agreeing to a mayor.

September 2026 - the LCCA meets with devolution minister Jim McMahon for crunch talks, during which he says that creating a Lancashire mayor is “a priority” for new PM Andy Burnham.

October 2026 - the government announces in papers accompanying the budget that it is “in the final stages” of agreeing for Lancashire to become a mayoral strategic authority.