The UK is beginning to recognise both the challenges and opportunities that cities offer in a way that's much better established on the European continent. 

At a macro political level this has manifested in the Government's expressed intentions to rebalance the economy and – in the rebalancing – recognising the continued importance of London alongside the necessity to optimise the economic growth potential of cities across the UK.

However, it is arguable that, in the way this debate has been conducted to date, it has been a narrow discussion focused on the relative roles of a small number of cities who belong to the Core Cities Group – failing to recognise the current and potential economic contribution of a wider range of cities, like those that belong to the Key Cities Group.