logo
Think tank: Glasgow should have directly-elected mayor

Think tank: Glasgow should have directly-elected mayor

Glasgow Times16-06-2025
The Centre for Cities said Glasgow could be missing out on billions in funding without the changes.
A report, The Missing Piece In The Big Cities' Jigsaw, claimed Scotland's GDP would be 4.6% larger than it is now if Glasgow's economy performed in line with the average for cities of its size.
In England, there are 10 combined local authorities which have a metro mayor. The process of local devolution began a decade ago with Greater Manchester.
READ MORE: Major tenement refurbishment completed in Glasgow's West End
READ MORE: 'Cutting-edge' technology doubles Glasgow's mobile network speeds
Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: 'The UK is taking a city-region led approach to economic growth because cities are at the frontier of innovation and economic growth.
'Glasgow has an important role in this, with the potential to make an added economic contribution the size of Scotland's oil and gas sector if it harnesses its size to generate more cutting-edge activity.
'English cities with metro mayors have, in the last week, been allocated billions to invest in local public transport networks and R&D.
'Scotland, too, needs its big cities to make a greater contribution to the economy.
'A directly-elected mayor for the Glasgow city region would bring much-needed leadership, accountability and the ability to shape growth around the city's needs.'
READ MORE: Glasgow's rank on UK city wellness list revealed
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'Glasgow is key to driving the Scottish economy, which is why the Scottish Government is partly funding the city-region's £1.13 billion growth deal.
'We have also supported Glasgow city region's £160 million investment zone, with additional funding for electric vehicle infrastructure and skills development.
'We are working with partners to explore ways of devolving further powers to regional economic partnerships, including Glasgow city region, with the aim of presenting options to Ministers by the end of this Parliament.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Five issues Donald Trump raised speaking to journalists after Scotland arrival
Five issues Donald Trump raised speaking to journalists after Scotland arrival

Daily Record

time19 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Five issues Donald Trump raised speaking to journalists after Scotland arrival

The US President was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Ambassador Warren Stephens after the Air Force One flight touched down on Friday night. Donald Trump spent around five minutes speaking to journalists after arriving in Scotland this evening. ‌ The US President waved to supporters who had gathered outside the airport before heading down the stairs onto the tarmac at Prestwick Airport after the Air Force One flight touched down at around 8.28pm on Friday. ‌ The 79-year-old was greeted by US Ambassador Warren Stephens and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before he spoke to media. ‌ Trump was pressed on a number of issues during the short briefing with reporter. He then left the airport in his motorcade at about 8.50pm on Friday, bound for his golf course at Turnberry on the west coast of Scotland, south of Ayr. Here are the five main issues discussed by Trump. ‌ Plans for the trip Trump is expected to meet Keir Starmer in South Ayrshire in the coming days before they then both travel to Aberdeenshire, where the President will formally open a new golf course at his Menie Estate. Speaking to reporters at Prestwick Airport in Scotland, the US president said: "It's wonderful to be here in Scotland. We are going to be meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow or the next day and we are going to do some great things."We have numerous executives that we are going to be meeting with. We are going to be meeting with a lot of people. We will be staying in Turnberry and then going to Aberdeen, which is the oil capital of Europe actually." Keir Starmer Trump only had glowing words for Sir Keir Starmer ahead of their meeting. ‌ He said: 'I like your Prime Minister, he's slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he's a good man. He got a trade deal done. 'You know, they've been working on this deal for 12 years, he got it done – that's a good deal, it's a good deal for the UK. 'I'll be seeing him tomorrow, I guess tomorrow evening'. ‌ Ghislaine Maxwell Trump was also asked about Ghislaine Maxwell - and the Epstein files - telling reporters: "I really have no... really nothing to say about it. "She is being talked to by a very smart man, by a very good man, Todd Blanch. "And, I don't know anything about the conversation. I haven't really been following it. ‌ "A lot of people are asking me about a pardon. "Obviously, this is no time to be talking about pardons. "This is just not a time to be talking about pardons. Todd will come back with whatever he's got." ‌ Immigration Trump said that European countries need to 'get your act together' on migration. He said: "I mean, there's a couple of things I could say, but on immigration, you'd better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore." Trump also claimed that illegal migration was an 'invasion' which was 'killing Europe'. ‌ Speaking to reporters at Prestwick Airport in Scotland, the US president said: 'Last month, we (the United States) had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with (former US president Joe) Biden. 'Biden was a total stiff, and what he allowed to happen…. but you're allowing it to happen to your countries, and you've got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe; many countries in Europe. 'Some people, some leaders, have not let it happen, and they're not getting the proper credit they should. ‌ 'I could name them to you right now, but I'm not going to embarrass the other ones. 'But stop: this immigration is killing Europe.' Windmills Trump also once again criticised windfarms as I spoke to reporters. The US president said: 'Stop the windmills. You're ruining your countries. I really mean it, it's so sad. 'You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds, and if they're stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans. 'Stop the windmills."

Traffic diverted due to Belfast protest against war in Gaza
Traffic diverted due to Belfast protest against war in Gaza

Belfast Telegraph

time20 minutes ago

  • Belfast Telegraph

Traffic diverted due to Belfast protest against war in Gaza

At one stage traffic was diverted and some buses re-routed. Hundreds of protesters gathered with pots and pans lining Donegall Place and blocking oncoming traffic during the protest this evening. An online post described it as 'an emergency protest organised in Belfast against the weaponisation of starvation and aid and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Palestine.' The PSNI and Translink has been approached for comment. Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Meanwhile, SDLP MPs Claire Hanna and Colum Eastwood and Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood are among 221 MPs from across different political parties who have joined forces to call on the Government to recognise a Palestinian state. The MPs urge the Government to take the step ahead of a United Nations conference in New York next week, following France's announcement it would recognise Palestine at the gathering. Their letter, co-ordinated by Sarah Champion - Labour chairwoman of the International Development Select Committee, said: "We are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality." Parliamentarians from Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents were among those who signed the letter. Senior signatories include Labour select committee chairs Liam Byrne and Ruth Cadbury, the Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, as well as Tory former minister Kit Malthouse. Ministers have faced growing calls to recognise a Palestinian state immediately amid mounting global anger over the starving population in Gaza. Israel 'tarnishing reputation', Lammy says as country rejects UK warnings Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday evening that such a move needed to be part of the "pathway" to peace in the Middle East. "That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace," the Prime Minister said. He added: "Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. In a statement released on Friday alongside the leaders of France and Germany, the Prime Minister urged "all parties to bring an end to the conflict by reaching an immediate ceasefire". Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz also called for Israel to stop restricting the flow of aid into Gaza.

US President Donald Trump arrives in Scotland
US President Donald Trump arrives in Scotland

Leader Live

time25 minutes ago

  • Leader Live

US President Donald Trump arrives in Scotland

Air Force One – the presidential plane – touched down at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire on Friday just before 8.30pm. The president was met by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as he disembarked, before heading to the waiting presidential helicopter Marine One, bound for his nearby Turnberry golf course. During his time in the country, the president will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney, as well as European Commission president Ursula von der Trump and Sir Keir are expected to discuss potential changes to the UK-US trade deal which came into force last month. Mr Swinney has pledged to 'essentially speak out for Scotland'. Speaking as he boarded Air Force One, the president said he would be having dinner with the Prime Minister at Turnberry, before 'going to go to the oil capital of Europe, which is Aberdeen'. He said: 'We're going to have a good time. I think the Prime Minister and I get along very well.' He added: 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even approve it.' He also told journalists he was 'looking forward' to meeting with the 'Scottish leader' Mr Swinney, describing him as a 'good man'. During his time in Scotland, the president is also likely to spark a number of protests, with concerns being raised about how such demonstrations are policed. Police Scotland has called in support from other forces in the UK to help bolster officer numbers, though senior officers and the organisation which represents the rank-and-file, have accepted Mr Trump's visit will have an impact.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store