How England's devolution drive reshapes power: Winners and left-behind regions

Andy Burnham is pushing ahead with an ambitious devolution agenda that could reshape power structures across England, promising a “fundamental rewiring” of how governance operates. The new Labour government has accelerated plans to transfer authority from Westminster to local leaders, with the most significant changes centered on regional mayors and combined authorities. While cities and metropolitan areas stand to gain the most, questions persist about how less urban regions will fare in this reshaping of England’s political and economic landscape.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, passed earlier this year under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, laid the groundwork for these changes. By April 2027, regional mayors will gain greater financial control, including the ability to retain portions of business rates and local income tax revenues. These funds, replacing traditional Whitehall grants, could empower mayors to fund long-overdue projects in housing, public transport, and public services. Cities like Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and the West Midlands—already frontrunners in devolution—are poised to benefit significantly, while smaller towns and rural areas risk being left behind.

Tony Travers, a local government expert at the London School of Economics, highlights a key tension in this approach. The strategy prioritizes economic growth in city centers, assuming that surrounding areas will benefit from spillover effects. Yet places like Somerset, Wiltshire, and coastal towns such as Minehead and Bridgwater—outside the West of England mayoral combined authority—lack representation in these new structures. Their economies, already struggling, may see little improvement under a system that favors urban hubs.

The government has set an ambitious timeline, aiming for all areas to have a strategic authority by 2028. However, progress has been uneven. Some regions, like Cornwall and Stoke-on-Trent, have only recently begun their devolution journeys, while others face delays. The government’s July policy statement, *Re-wiring the State*, outlined plans to establish strategic authorities nationwide, but concerns remain about feasibility given stretched council budgets and overlapping reforms in policing, fire services, and healthcare.

Accountability is another pressing issue. While elected mayors will hold power, scrutiny mechanisms outside London are weak. Most combined authorities rely on scrutiny committees rather than independent assemblies, raising doubts about oversight. Additionally, the geographic bias toward northern and Midlands cities risks reinforcing regional inequalities, with southern areas like the South West potentially marginalized.

As Burnham’s government races to implement these changes, the biggest question remains: Will devolution truly level up England, or will it deepen divides between thriving cities and struggling towns?

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