The devolution parliament: Devolving power to England’s regions, towns and cities
Article
London and the South East – home to just one-third of the England’s population – has accounted for almost half (47 per cent) of the country’s increase in jobs in the last decade. The UK is the most regionally unequal country in the developed world: inner London is one of the most productive areas in the whole of the EU, while, in other parts of the UK, productivity is similar to Poland, Hungary and Romania.
No other country tolerates the inequalities of power and prosperity that divide England, and most major countries across Europe and the developed world have several centres of prosperity. As a result, they tend to have healthier, more resilient national economies with higher productivity and greater inclusion.
This paper lays out a case for change that shows how the country could benefit from the right programme of devolution in England.
Related items

“I feel quite unsettled and unsafe”: Young people, belonging, and the broken promise of childhood
Young people in England feel less secure, supported and connected than a decade ago. Based on nearly 200 conversations, this blog explores why childhood feels more stressful and less joyful.
On home ground: The future of devolution
Andy Burnham has pledged to deliver “the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen”. The key task for the new government is putting this into action.
The legitimacy trap
Why a more active state needs better statecraft.