The West of England’s metro mayoral office has moved away from a ministerial-style communication approach known as the “red box” system, implemented by former mayor Dan Norris. The system, traditionally used by UK government ministers to manage communication through secure briefcases, was adopted by Norris—who was previously a Labour minister—to facilitate messages between himself and senior officers.
However, an independent review by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace) published in June 2024 criticized the red box system as outdated and counterproductive for modern regional governance. The report indicated that the system hindered professional respect, potentially led to misrepresentations of views, and left both officers and the mayor uncertain about communications.
Under the new metro mayor, Helen Godwin, the red box system has reportedly been phased out. During a West of England Combined Authority scrutiny committee meeting on July 14, when asked if the system had been discarded, Godwin said she was unfamiliar with it—suggesting it was no longer in use. “If you don’t know about it, it probably doesn’t exist anymore. Which is a good thing,” commented Bristol City councillor Toby Wells.
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The move to discard the red box system follows governmental concerns about the previous mayor’s relationships with council leaders. In March 2024, the government issued a best value notice citing a “poor state of professional relationships” under Norris and urged improvement. By early 2025, before the mayoral election that brought Godwin to office, the government expressed reassurance after signs of progress.
Since taking office, Mayor Godwin has emphasized collaboration and kindness to rebuild relationships, reaching out to council leaders immediately and appointing them as deputy mayors on a rotating, annual basis to encourage cross-party cooperation.
Despite criticisms, Dan Norris defended the red box’s use while in office, citing its long-standing tradition in government and its effectiveness in ensuring agreement on communications. Norris served as metro mayor from 2021 until 2025 but did not stand for re-election, having been elected MP for North East Somerset and Hanham. In April 2025, Norris was arrested on serious allegations but remains on police bail and has not been charged. Following his arrest, he was suspended by the Labour Party, although his proxy vote has been managed by Labour MP Chris Elmore.
The end of the red box system signals a shift toward more modern and collaborative methods of governance under Helen Godwin’s leadership, reflecting evolving expectations for transparency and professional respect in regional government.