Leeds is returning to the world stage on a scale unseen since its football team contested a European Champions League semifinal in 2001. While losing marked the start of a long slide for Leeds United, the united forces of the Leeds city region believe it is embarking on a new era of international success.
The region is a first, along with one in nearby Manchester, a bold experiment in power sharing across 11 local authority boundaries. England is one of the most centralised countries in western Europe. The city regions, clusters of authorities, will be able to bid for extra powers in training, education, transport and employment, having a greater say over how money is spent in those areas.
