One of the most common criticisms of the Government's devolution deals is that the new ‘metro-mayors' they will introduce are a top-down imposition on UK cities, unwanted by the public and concentrating too much power in the hands of one individual.

However, new polling published this week by Centre for Cities shows strong public support for powerful new mayors in the five biggest city-regions due to introduce them in May 2017 (Greater Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, the West Midlands and the North East).