Areas will remain excluded, and nothing is gained from making local government units larger and more anonymous, write Steve Leach and Colin Copus John Harris correctly recognises that “England’s 14 regional and metro mayors are right to see a growing opportunity for a civic political renaissance”, but justifiably points out how areas remain excluded from the new arrangements, or are at best a poor fit (Cities are the big winners in Burnham’s devolution drive. But what happens to the rest of England?, 30 August). Allowing for a further batch of city region-based authorities over half of England’s population does not suit this model. Where are the city regions and “strategic authorities” in most of rural Devon, Surrey, Hertfordshire and much of Kent and Essex? Continue reading...