Key Labour thinktank recommends major new powers for elected mayors

Plans would put mayors at forefront of delivering public sector improvements in areas such as health and education

Mayors should be given major new powers, according to a report by the Starmerite thinktank Labour Together, which comes as officials put the finishing touches to a devolution paper due in the coming weeks.

The report recommends using city and regional mayors to road-test new public sector schemes before they are rolled out nationally, and giving them more control over their budgets and allowing them to commission more local public services.