In England, a strategic authority mayor (also referred to as metro mayor, regional mayor or simply mayor) is a directly elected political leader who is leader of a strategic authority. The term strategic authority mayor was introduced as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 to cover the mayor of London and mayors of combined authorities and combined county authorities.
The first strategic authority mayoral post was the mayor of London, created as the executive of the Greater London Authority (GLA) in 2000 as part of a reform of the local government of Greater London. More strategic authority mayors were introduced following in the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016.
Strategic authority mayors sit on the Mayoral Council for England, the National Economic Council, and Council of the Nations and Regions alongside the UK Prime Minister and First Ministers of devolved governments.
Naming "Strategic authority mayor" is a term introduced in 2024, made statutory in 2026 and applied retrospectively to existing mayoralties. The mayors are sometimes known as "metro mayors", "regional mayors" or "devolved mayors". Reflecting that the first wave of mayors covered metropolitan areas, some cover larger regions, and their role in implementing devolution in England.
History Mayor of London
The first directly elected mayor in England was introduced in Greater London in 2000 as part of the statutory provisions of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. The position of the elected Mayor of London is a strategic regional one, and quite different from that of local authority mayors. The work of the mayor of London is scrutinised by the London Assembly, a unique arrangement in the English local government system. The mayor of London cannot be removed from office by a referendum following a petition, as is the case for directly elected mayors elsewhere in England.
The mayor of London should not be confused with the ancient position of Lord Mayor of London, elected annually by liverymen of the City of London.
Expansion In 2014, it was announced that directly elected mayors would be created for combined authorities (CAs), subject to new primary legislation. In 2017, inaugural elections were held for mayors of Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, West of England, and the West Midlands. These directly elected mayoralties were agreed as part of the devolution deals allowed by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. That act inserted sections into the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 for the election of mayors of CAs.
A delayed election for the Sheffield City Region followed in May 2018. The North of Tyne Combined Authority and the North East Combined Authority (2014–2024) were merged into the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority, the first election for which took place in May 2024.
Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 enabled the creation of combined county authorities (CCAs), which are similar to the existing CAs. The act enabled new powers to be devolved to CAs and CCAs. It also allowed strategic authority mayors to take a different title, including "elected leader", "governor",and "county commissioner". , no mayors have taken a different title.
Powers Strategic authority mayors have cover larger areas than directly elected local authority mayors and have responsibilities devolved from the UK government. They generally have powers over transport, skills, housing, and local infrastructure investment, and sometimes over spatial planning, policing, health and employment support.
UK Mayors Network Combined (county) authority mayors and the Mayor of London meet informally on a monthly basis as the UK Mayors Network (M10 Group) allowing them to consult each other, coordinate their actions, and gain access to UK government ministers.https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/1706a4b2-9908-4524-94af-a248f85132f8
From 2022 to 2026, it was chaired by Tracy Brabin since May 2022 and previously by Dan Jarvis. Since 2026, it has been chaired by Claire Ward.
List of strategic authority mayors , there are 14 mayors of strategic authorities in England.
AuthorityPostCategoryCurrent mayor PartyFirst electionNext electionPopulation (2020)ONS Population estimates – local authority based by five year age band via NomisCambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined AuthorityMayor of Cambridgeshire and PeterboroughEstablished mayoral 20172029859,800East Midlands Combined County AuthorityMayor of the East MidlandsEstablished mayoral202420281,363,000Greater Lincolnshire Combined County AuthorityMayor of Greater LincolnshireMayoral202520291,103,320Greater London AuthorityMayor of LondonEstablished mayoral200020288,547,000Greater Manchester Combined AuthorityMayor of Greater ManchesterEstablished mayoral201720282,848,300Hull and East Yorkshire Combined AuthorityMayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral2025 2029Liverpool City Region Combined AuthorityMayor of the Liverpool City RegionEstablished mayoral201720281,564,000North East Mayoral Strategic AuthorityMayor of the North EastEstablished mayoral202420282,567,000South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityMayor of South YorkshireEstablished mayoral201820281,415,100Tees Valley Combined AuthorityMayor of the Tees ValleyMayoral20172028677,200West Midlands Combined AuthorityMayor of the West MidlandsEstablished mayoral201720282,939,900West of England Combined AuthorityMayor of the West of EnglandEstablished mayoral20172029950,000West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityMayor of West YorkshireEstablished mayoral202120282,345,200York and North Yorkshire Combined AuthorityMayor of York and North YorkshireEstablished mayoral20242028820,500
Upcoming mayoralties
AuthorityPostCategoryStatusFirst electionCheshire and Warrington Combined AuthorityMayor of Cheshire and WarringtonMayoralAuthority established 24 February 2026, awaiting mayoral powers2027Cumbria Combined AuthorityMayor of CumbriaMayoralAuthority established 24 February 2026, awaiting mayoral powers2027Sussex and Brighton Combined County AuthorityMayor of Sussex and BrightonMayoralAuthority established 26 March 2026, awaiting mayoral powers 2028Hampshire and the Solent Combined County AuthorityMayor of Hampshire and the SolentMayoralAuthority established 4 June 2026, awaiting mayoral powers2028Greater Essex Combined County AuthorityMayor of Greater EssexMayoralAuthority approved, not yet formally established2028 (planned)Norfolk and Suffolk Combined County AuthorityMayor of Norfolk and SuffolkMayoralAuthority approved, not yet formally established2028 (planned)
Former mayoralties
AuthorityPostCategoryFinal mayor PartyFirst electionDissolvedReplaced byNorth of Tyne Combined AuthorityMayor of the North of Tyne MayoralJamie Driscoll20192024North East Mayoral Combined Authority
See also Directly elected local authority mayors
References
External links Institute for Government mayoral pages