Power Shifts and Power Moves
English devolution is happening and coming to a place near you.
With it, comes local government reform and probably the biggest shake-up in how we are governed in a generation. This is exciting stuff – but the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act is hardly a hot topic for most of us.
In a populist, fast paced world, where communities are fragmented, devolution could be a gamechanger; delivering inclusion, diversity and creating stronger, more cohesive and culturally tolerant communities.
The new era of populism requires good story telling if our leaders are going to survive defeat. If polls are correct, the end of 2 party politics is nigh, with voters more persuaded by the storytellers on the left and right who chime with what they feel. Done well, devolution and empowerment will deliver real change the majority crave and could renew people’s trust in democracy.
The promise of devolution
Devolution is not just an administrative efficiency. It’s about decisions being made closer to the people they affect. It’s about real money and real power to do things differently.
Over the past 6 months, Metro Mayors powers have been unleashed! Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Liverpool City Region have scored multi-year settlements from central government. Billions are being promised. Local Growth Plans and Integrated Settlements will work to unlock innovation and skills. ‘Metro Mayors are driving growth and matching investment to local priorities.
When Keir Starmer first took office, he was clear: “My fundamental belief is that those with skin in the game are the ones who know best what they need”.
English devolution delivers a lot of skin in places that need it. Devolved strategic authorities align with local economies and the needs of communities, moving power closer to people and places.
What’s not to like? The missing link is clarity over who holds power. England’s governance is complex and hard to navigate, leaving people unsure who is responsible for delivery.. Long-overdue local government reform and clearer signposting are essential to make devolution meaningful, rebuild trust, and renew democracy.
What needs to change?
The “levelling up” era of devolution was defined as a ‘geography of discontent’ rather than a serious democratic overhaul.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act promises change by designating longer-standing regions as ‘established mayoral’, giving them rights to request further powers, secure multi-year funding, and gain legal protection from retrospective changes.
However, flexibility within devolution has also created institutional complexity. The Centre for Cities found that while Metro Mayors are generally more visible than local MPs, recognition varies significantly—43% in Liverpool versus 83% in Greater Manchester—highlighting confusion over leadership and who is in charge of what. As devolution deepens and local government is reorganised, greater visibility must be matched with clearer, more recognisable lines of power and governance. Without this, Mayoral accountability is circumvented, tensions are likely to emerge and power becomes fragmented.
The challenge is accountability
Metro Mayors have become powerful ambassadors for their regions—visible leaders with growing influence and, in some cases, near “celebrity” status. Figures like Andy Burnham demonstrate how strong local leadership, combined with greater freedom from central government, can drive growth, prosperity, and pride in place.
Devolution is working. Greater Manchester shows what’s possible when geography, policy, and identity align—particularly through integrated transport, with 84% of residents now within a five-minute walk of a transport connection. But this success rests on vision, agency, and the ability of local leaders to deliver.
As powers expand, responsibility remains blurred. Housing, skills, and transport are shaped across multiple layers—local, regional, and national. Whilst Metro Mayors are highly visible, they don’t hold all the levers. Parliament remains sovereign, and many statutory duties often sit with cash strapped local authorities. If those who are embedded in local government or even hold power, struggle to define who controls what, how are voters expected to determine what and who they are voting for and why?
Public awareness is already low: 63% of people are unaware of devolution plans. Without clarity, democratic accountability weakens.
The UK is one of the most centralised countries in the developed world, with only around 6% of tax raised locally. Without fiscal autonomy, the power map will not be redrawn. Rather, we are just rearranging it. With the news that £13billion is to be distributed to devolved areas and most recently, the Chancellor confirming Fiscal Devolution is on its way, there is a real opportunity to reshape how England is governed.
All this is significant because Mayors are being trusted with real money and given real power. Allowing Mayors to retain elements of national taxes such as income tax takes devolution to a new and much wanted level. Fiscal devolution is the real deal. It will unlock real power and hasten progress. But it will also raise new questions about fairness and accountability and, potentially, lead to tensions between local, regional and national leaders competing for resources.
Delivery
Successful devolution needs to deliver place based economic growth, regeneration and change. That change must be lived and experienced. In this way, people will feel more connected. Elections for new and existing Mayors need to generate higher voter turnout because the story of devolution is being told, liked and understood.
Greater power must be matched with clearer control over how money is raised and spent. But success won’t be measured by new structures. It will be measured by whether people understand who represents them, trust how decisions are made, and feel enabled to change their lives by engaging in the democratic process. Whilst the popularity of a Mayor might be measured at the ballot box, it is not enough to hold Mayors to account.
It’s time to look to the future and tell the public the full story of English devolution and what it means for people and places. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act needs to be heralded as the keystone for sustainable growth, change and renewal. As the map is redrawn and more power is devolved in more parts of England, greater accountability must follow.
When power moves, tides turn. Local leaders must work together to take people with them and make sure that the promise of devolution delivers good decisions made by those with skin in the game.
About the author
Gill Morris is Creator and Founder and Executive Chair of Devo Agency which informs and shapes the debate on what good devolution looks like, what it means and what it is for. Gill has over 30 years of experience in parliamentary and public affairs work. Gill has recognised expertise on the topic of devolution and has used this to lead calls for positive change and levelling up in England’s towns, cities and regions.
Photo Credit: Martina Jorden on Unsplash