Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has pledged to decentralize power from Westminster to local areas, unveiling a new initiative termed the 'devolution revolution'.
According to Rayner, London has "tightly gripped control and held back opportunities" for towns, cities, and villages for too long.
The new Labour Government is encouraging regions to engage and explore devolution for the first time. Rayner, the Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, has reached out to council leaders without current devolution deals, urging them to partner with the Government.
This announcement precedes the King's Speech on Wednesday, where it is anticipated that more control over skills, energy, planning, and transport, including bus routes and fares, will be transferred to local authorities.
In his first press conference as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer emphasized his commitment to further devolving Government powers. He revealed that one of his initial meetings would be with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and other Metro mayors, regardless of their political affiliations.
In her letter to local leaders, Rayner stated, “For too long, Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities, and villages across the country.”
She added that she and the Prime Minister recently met with metro mayors to discuss economic growth through better housing, skills, and jobs for local people. Rayner expressed her desire to work with more regions to utilize these enhanced powers, aiming to drive growth nationwide.
Voters in several large cities in England elect mayors with regional responsibilities for transport, housing, and sometimes policing.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Rayner met with 11 regional leaders, including Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and Tees Valley’s Conservative Mayor Lord Houchen. Sir Keir emphasized his intention to build "a real partnership" with these leaders.
The Government cites Greater Manchester, which has had devolved powers since 2014, as a successful example of regional devolution. Photo by Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.