Boris Johnson visited a school in Bristol this morning ahead of a cabinet meeting in the city today (Friday, October 15).
Joined by Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi, the Prime Minister made a fleeting trip to Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy less than 24 hours after returning from a holiday in Marbella.
He visited the school to discuss the work they're doing to save the planet ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.
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Bristol Live questioned Mr Johnson on what the government will do to ensure big decisions are made in the city amid a row between the West of England Combined Authority's (WECA) political leaders.
It comes as Metro Mayor Dan Norris turned up for this month's committee meeting at City Hall alone as four council leaders refused to attend.
The council leaders detailed an astonishing power struggle with Mr Norris, accusing him of exercising a power of veto he is not entitled to. They were due to discuss a huge bid put to the government seeking more than half a million pounds for bus services.
Mr Johnson assured journalists he does know who the Metro Mayor is after he failed to name him in an interview with ITV West Country.
He said it is important the city's leaders “get things done together“.
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“I think mayors are a great thing for cities and can make a huge difference," he said.
"But it is important they work with the whole structure of local government and get things done together."
He continued: “When you have those local representatives singing from the same hymn sheet things go fantastically well. So that's what I would encourage.”
The Prime Minister is expected to meet Dan Norris this afternoon as he chairs a regional cabinet meeting in Bristol amid growing concerns over the energy and supply crisis.
It comes as Transport secretary Grant Shapps admitted ministers can't guarantee every line of every product will be available this Christmas.
Bristol Live also questioned Mr Zahawi on funding for schools in the city, following reports sixth formers and some year 7s are being relocated out of Bristol due to a shortage of school places.
The Education Minister praised his predecessor Gavin William for delivering the “largest investment in school provision“.
"We are in the middle of a spending review at the moment, but you heard the Prime Minister at party conference in Manchester talk about ‘skills, skills, skills.’ This is all the way through from early years to primary and secondary," he said.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister, referring to the funding, said: “You’ll have to wait and see what we do in the spending review.”
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