Dr Jane Martin looks at the role of the new metro mayors who promote the seven principles of public life within their combined authorities and take a lead in embedding them across local government as a whole

With so much political news over the last few months, the election of six new metro mayors in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Tees Valley, West of England and the West Midlands has not received as much attention as it might in less turbulent times.

The mayors are powerful new figures, marking a significant shift in the accountability relationships between national and local government in England. As leaders of combined authorities, they take over powers from central government for key policy and strategic issues as wide as transport, housing, planning, skills and economic development, each with investment funds for 30 years. Their duties vary from area to area, with the remit of each mayor determined by the individual devolution settlement agreed with government.