THE UK's top 10 cities, including Glasgow, will today launch a fresh bid for more economic powers to be devolved from Westminster and Holyrood.
The Core Cities Group will call on the new Conservative Government to "rebalance" the country by devolving decision making and budgets from Whitehall.
The leader of Glasgow council, Gordon Matheson, has also urged the Scottish Government to back the same agenda, allowing the city to take on the same range of responsibilities pursued by the likes of Leeds and Manchester.
The Core Cities Group, an alliance set up to push for greater devolution to city regions, comprises: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield, which are at the heart of the 10 biggest economies outside London.
Leaders from the cities will launch a "devolution declaration" at an event in London today.
It criticises Britain's "over-centralised state" and calls on the incoming Government to "rebalance, reform and renew" the UK.
The group argues
giving cities greater control over infrastructure, skills, trade and innovation, housing and planning will produce better local decision-making.
In an open letter to senior MPs, council leaders said the eight English cities in the group could boost the economy by £222billion, creating more than a million jobs, by 2030 with additional powers.
The letter adds: "Devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continues, raising important questions for England.
"This will not however unlock the massive economic potential of cities across the UK.
"The international evidence is clear. "Devolution below the level of nations is critical to address urgent challenges of driving prosperity, increasing equality and strengthening democracy.
"Cities must be freed from unnecessary central controls whether from Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff Bay or Stormont."
The group wants to go beyond the type of "city deal" which won Glasgow and other West of Scotland councils a £1billion spending boost over the next 20 years.
Leaders believe the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, is more open to the devolution agenda than his predecessor, Eric Pickles.
In Scotland, Glasgow is hopeful the Scottish Government will also back the plan, as many of the powers it seeks are held at Holyrood rather than Westminster.
Mr Matheson, who will not attend the event in London today, said: "I have had positive discussions recently with Scottish Government ministers, including the First Minister, and I sincerely hope we can progress the cities agenda jointly."
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