The shape of devolution

Article

How do we create transparent, fair and practical footprints for local power across England?

Finding the right shape of the footprints to devolve power to in England is a complex exercise that requires consideration of a wide range of issues including economic, functionality, populations, public services, places and identities as well as institutional practices and memory and policy development. More often than not, resorting to the principle of ‘administrative convenience’ has been common practice.

Yet, with a new government pledging to widen and deepen devolution, and the idea of ‘completing the map’ coming to the fore, the question arises again: how do we create transparent, fair and practical footprints for local power across England? In a landscape dotted with ad-hoc political geographies and ‘devolution deserts’, what geographical shape should devolution take?

This essay explores what practical, holistic, people-focused footprints for devolution could take into account.

Related items

  1. Towards a Communities Agenda 2.0

    Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street creates an opportunity to go much further on the communities agenda than we’ve seen up to now. So what should more ambition look like in practice?
  2. A photograph from below of the grand Manchester town hall building on a sunny day against a blue sky

    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.
  3. Small tent on the pavement of the city street in London, UK, with a homeless person sleeping inside

    Home truths: Housing-led approaches to homelessness

    Nationally, there is a lack of political urgency in reducing homelessness.