The Constitution Unit

England’s ‘devolution revolution’: prospects and challenges

Episode Summary

An expert panel discusses the government’s plans for reforming regional and local government in England.

Episode Notes

The UK government has promised a ‘devolution revolution’ in England, with major changes to the structure of regional and local government, and has published a detailed white paper setting out its plans. How might these changes affect the delivery of public services and quality of local democracy? How will they change the place of local government in the wider constitutional structure? What else might be needed to ensure that ministers achieve their goals? We discussed these questions with an expert panel including two current and former council leaders.

Speakers:

• Bella Sankey – Labour Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council and Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Labour Group
• Roger Gough – former Conservative Leader of Kent County Council (2019–25)
• Professor Arianna Giovannini – Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Urbino, Italy and former Director of IPPR North.

Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit