May's local and mayoral elections, in the run up to a General Election, inevitably provided political drama and intrigue. It was the focus of much of the media, both local and national, following the 2 May ballot.

Of deeper interest is the growing maturity of the patchwork of combined authorities, both as democratic institutions and as delivery bodies. The 2024 election of metro mayors across the country marks an acceleration of the value of combined authorities to regional economic growth and regeneration.