Andy Burnham must cut regulations and allow city regions to build more trams if he is to boost growth and jobs outside of the capital, his ally and former West Midlands mayor Andy Street has said.
The prospective prime minister has pledged to devolve more power over decision-making to local mayors when, as is expected, he takes over from Sir Keir Starmer later this month.
Street, who is widely tipped to run Great British Railways, the new body overseeing the country’s trains, has urged him to cut regulations and allow cities to build hundreds of miles of new tramlines to boost regional productivity.
Burnham has repeatedly trumpeted his track record on transport, creating the Bee Network during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester, of which the city’s successful Metrolink tram system is part.
Street, who worked hand in hand with Burnham to try and build a new rail line between Birmingham and Manchester after HS2 north was scrapped, said the UK is lagging behind Europe when it comes to building new trams, which he says are greener and more efficient than cars and buses.
