Devolution to England

Since 2015, powers over transport, skills, housing and more have been transferred from Whitehall to local leaders in many parts of England. The government is committed to continuing this process, extending devolution to all parts of England that want it. The Labour Party also promises further devolution should it return to power.

Our research assesses the success of English devolution, evaluates the impact of metro mayors and combined authorities, and identifies how devolution could be strengthened. We advocate for a more coherent set of powers for mayors and other local leaders as well as simpler funding arrangements. We also work to improve the capacity and effectiveness of devolved institutions.

In May 2024, we published a set of proposals for how the next government should complete the job of English devolution, calling for the extension of devolution to 85% of England to deliver meaningful and balanced economic growth. These proposals were first included in a working paper presented at a private event at the IfG on the 18 March 2024.