Andy Burnham, a prominent figure in British politics, is expected to be the next Prime Minister by the end of next month. His leadership comes at a pivotal time for devolution, a process of handing down powers from central government to decision-making bodies further down the constitutional ladder.
Devolution has a long history in the UK, with the creation of devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland following Tony Blair's ascension to power in 1997. These governments have the authority to make decisions in devolved areas such as education and health, while the central government retains control over areas like immigration and defense.
The government in Westminster has the power to veto certain decisions, as it did with the Holyrood's gender recognition reform bill in 2023. Meanwhile, in England, combined authorities have been devolving powers over the past 15 years. Burnham, a former Mayor of Greater Manchester, is a strong advocate for further devolution, arguing that regions and local communities should have more control over the decisions that affect them.
Burnham's devolution platform is centered on the idea of a "federal UK," where individual states have roughly equal status to the central government. This would allow regions to have more autonomy and decision-making power, rather than relying on the central government in Westminster. In his book, "Head North," co-authored with Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram, Burnham calls for a complete transfer of power out of Westminster to all parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The goal of Burnham's vision is to create a new era where people and places can be masters of their own destiny, free to collaborate without the influence of Westminster. He believes that replacing the centralized, top-down model with a local focus will result in good growth in every postcode. This idea is not new, as it was largely promised in Labour's 2024 manifesto, which stated that the party would transfer power out of Westminster and into communities.
The government has already passed the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 to hand down more powers to authorities around the country. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has expressed support for Burnham's plans, saying they would put "rocket boosters" under the devolution that began under the current administration. If implemented, Burnham's vision would give more power to mayors and local authorities, including those in Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire, Tees Valley, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
However, this move also risks voters blaming the new Prime Minister if they are disappointed in how their local bodies are handling complex new areas. Burnham will be hoping that everything works out as planned, as he embarks on his term in power with a focus on devolution and empowering local communities.
