Midlands 'may become flyover state’ unless identity is established
A think tank leader has warned that LLR and the wider Midlands region could be at risk of becoming a ‘fly over state’ between London and Manchester.
Professor Harris Beider, founder and CEO of The Forward Institute, made the observation during his keynote speech to delegates at Competing to Win - an economic growth summit for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland led by the Universities Partnership.
Prof. Beider attended the conference in central Leicester to share insight and experience of Devolution, Birmingham and the West Midlands.
And he highlighted the need for collaboration to ensure regions establish their own identities, rather than allowing London-led narratives around the North and South to gloss over the Midlands.
“Of course the West Midlands and East Midlands are very different areas, but there's a danger that the Midlands gets ignored and we can't allow that to happen," he told delegates.
“There's a real danger that the Midlands (East and West) will be reduced to a fly over state, sandwiched between London and Manchester.
“We can’t allow that to happen. And I don’t think we can allow that to happen, which is why getting together and collaborating is important.”
Professor Beider went on to outline challenges, complexities and opportunities created as a result of recent government changes.
“With Andy Burnham as Prime Minister we have an accelerated commitment to devolution, which actually shifts more fiscal control to mayors.
“We have Number10 North to drive regional development and we have the Devolution of services, skills and post 16 education.
“Of course, last month that changed for some regions, including this one, when local government reorganisation was paused but the national timeline to roll out Devolution is there.
"The reality is that there's two options that we have: we can either say that local government reorganisation has paused, so we'll go back to the status quo, or because policy has changed, strategies will change as well.
"I think that actually creates space and opportunity for innovation in how we do so in regions.”
Who we are
Devolution Leicestershire is an industry-education-VCSE coalition.
Founded in 2026, its purpose is:
- To accelerate a Devolution deal for Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland
- To press for fair Government funding for LLR while the Devo deal is done.
Amy Orton is Account Director for 1284 Communications. She is a board member at Menphys. Amy was previously the Local Democracy Reporter for Leicestershire. Her role was funded by the BBC to report on local government in LLR for shared use by a host of media titles.
