Stephen Clarke, Resolution Foundation, outlines some of the key living standards facing the Sheffield City Region. Worryingly the delay to devolution means that local leaders will have fewer powers than their counterparts elsewhere to address these.

As a result it is important for the current impasse in the devolution process to be resolved. Assuming that that the shape of devolution is finalised in the relatively near future it should provide local leaders with new opportunities to take decisions that improve the lives of residents in the region. If this is to happen then both local and national political leaders need to focus on raising productivity and pay and improving the employment prospects for particular group.

Image courtesy of interviewee. March 27, 2017