Executive summary
England is one of the most centralised countries in the developed world. Devolution across England is fundamental to achieving the change the public expect and deserve: growth, more joined-up delivery of public services, and politics being done with communities, not to them. These are all key aspects of this government’s Plan for Change. We believe it is only by redistributing political, social and economic power that we will rewire England and allow everyone everywhere to realise their full potential.
The foundation of modern devolution began in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London in the late 1990s. Since then, and despite austerity and insufficient funding for local government over the past 14 years, mayoral devolution has shown that it can be a vehicle for the change the public expect.
Mayoral devolution works because Mayors can use their mandate for change to take the difficult decisions needed to drive growth; their standing and soft power to convene local partners to tackle shared problems; and their platform to tackle the obstacles to growth that need a regional approach. It works because they have skin in the game and are accountable to their citizens. This White Paper initiates the biggest transfer of power out of Westminster to England’s regions this century.
You can find the complete White Paper here