Thirty-one years ago, a Conservative prime minister abolished the metropolitan county councils, along with the positions of their outspoken, predominantly Labour, and, from her point of view, troublesome, leaders. This month, under another Conservative prime minister, most of the metropolitan regions saw the return of regional leaders in the guise of metro-mayors.

Insisted on by the Government as the price to pay for city devolution, the new mayors are something of a political paradox. The Conservatives like them because they provide an essential element of personal accountability, ie, blame, when things inevitably go wrong. Labour councillors have, somewhat grudgingly, accepted them as the price to pay for devolution and, with it, a chance to show their party can deliver when handed control. A few local politicians, however, have recognised that a powerful and high-profile figure might be very useful in attracting attention and funding to their area and driving forward ambitious local agendas.