The HS2 saga over the last few days shows metro mayors still lack the voice and power they need to shape the economic future of their places.

The Conservative Party conference was dominated by the Prime Minister’s indecision over the future of HS2 ever since proposals to cut the Northern limb to Manchester were leaked to The Independent.

The resulting outcry underlines how a lack of serious engagement with the metro mayors is undermining the way these major economic decisions are taken.