Summary: We will publish an English Devolution White Paper to give power to local areas.
- Each place in our nation has a unique heritage, a unique character, and a unique future – and we believe that to level up opportunity, places need power and a sense of responsibility and accountability.
- Our English Devolution White Paper will set out our plans to devolve powers and funding to places across England. This will help areas that already have devolution deals to level up their power and clarify our devolution offer for areas across the country without mayoral devolution deals.
- We will ensure no part of this country is left behind by levelling up opportunity to drive local growth, improve public services and improve people’s lives. Conservative mayors in particular are leading the way in transforming our cities and improving public services.
Background
- There is an opportunity to set out how we aim to ‘level up’ the powers of Mayors. We want these powers to be levelled-up to those of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and we will clarify what our devolution offer is to smaller cities and rural areas – to help drive growth and improve public service delivery. Conservative mayors have lead the way in improving public services and promoting economic growth.
Our solution
- We will launch an English Devolution White Paper. This will set out how we plan to further the devolution agenda, levelling up the power of Mayors and giving power to people and places across England.
Conservative record
- We have successively devolved more powers following evidence that the model works. In Greater Manchester, for example, further powers have been devolved since 2014, including control of their health and social care budget in 2016.
Q: What kind of powers are on the table for levelling up?
There are opportunities to level up powers for Mayors across transport, housing and planning, the environment, public health and safety, and the ability to raise and retain revenue locally.
Q: Will rural areas get the same powers as urban areas?
We will set out our offer for all places in more detail in the White Paper.
