This event is to launch the book Devolution in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region. It will also consider the progress of these two new mayoral combined authorities alongside the fate of the wider Levelling Up Project.

The chair, Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities, will open the event at 5.30pm followed by Professors Blakeley and Evans outlining key findings from their book. Andrew Carter will then invite Andy Burnham and Liam Robinson to reflect on these findings and to discuss the challenges and achievements of the first mayoral term in office in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region. There will be time for Q&A from the audience.

This event will be of interest to:

All GM and LCR MPs and council leaders;
Local councillors and officers from the local authorities of GM, the LCR and across the North;
Students, academics, researchers interested in the topics of politics and devolution;
Political activists, political parties and pressure groups;
Policy makers working in health, transport, skills, economic development, the environment, public service reform.

Speakers:

Professor Georgina Blakeley Professor of Democracy and Governance, University of Huddersfield and co-author of Devolution in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region (MUP, 2023).
Professor Brendan Evans, Emeritus Professor and Research Fellow, University of Huddersfield and co-author of Devolution in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region (MUP, 2023).
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (Labour & Co-operative)
Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Labour Councillor
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities