Devolution has become an established part of the UK constitutional architecture, but while legislative and executive devolution has been established and evolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there has been no equivalent devolution in England, creating asymmetry in the UK governance arrangements. Since 2014, there have been a number of initiatives to “devolve” power within England: ten combined authorities have now successfully negotiated bespoke “devolution” deals, but this has only added to the complexity of English local government. The Government has committed to publishing an English Devolution White Paper in 2020, setting out its “plans for full devolution across England”.
Inquiry
The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
Witnesses Alderman Roy Perry (Chair at South East Councils (SEC)), Councillor John Fuller OBE (Chair at District Councils’ Network), Councillor Martin Tett (Leader at Buckinghamshire Council), Andy Burnham (Mayor at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)), and Jamie Driscoll (Mayor at North of Tyne Combined Authority)
Committees Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Inquiry
The Evolution of Devolution: English Devolution
Witnesses Cllr Sir Richard Leese (Chair of the Local Government Association’s City Regions Board and Leader of Manchester City Council), Cllr David Williams (County Councils Network Chairman and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council), Cllr Julian German (Britain’s Leading Edge and Leader of Cornwall Council), The Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine CH, and Professor John Denham (Director, Centre for English Identity and Politics, University of Southampton)
Committees Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee