A new report from the University of Liverpool's Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place calls for changes in the way central government works with Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), urging Westminster to adopt a genuine 'devolution mindset' to unlock the full potential of local and regional leadership.
The State of Intergovernmental Relations in England, launched yesterday (Thursday 19 June) at a live online event, provides timely insight into how England's increasingly powerful MCAs interact with central government - and what needs to change to ensure devolution delivers on its promises.
Devolution in England is now well established, with MCAs gaining an increasing array of policy powers and responsibilities over recent years. The 2024 English devolution white paper confirmed a commitment from the government to a new era of local power, working 'in partnership' with metro mayors such as Liverpool City Region's Steve Rotheram.
With over 60% of England's population now covered by devolution deals, and this figure set to rise in coming years, the report highlights the relationships shaping regional policy and the need for stronger, more consistent collaboration between levels of government.
This report, authored by Dr Paul Anderson (Senior Lecturer in Politics at Liverpool John Moores University and Heseltine Institute Visiting Fellow) and Dr Tom Arnold (Research Associate at the Heseltine Institute), explores Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) in England - the often-overlooked but essential 'plumbing' of multi-level governance in the UK. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with regional politicians, local government officials and civil servants, the research presents a detailed picture of both the promise and the problems of England's current devolution framework.
"England remains one of the most politically and fiscally centralised nations in the developed world," said Dr Arnold. "Metro mayors have become central to local leadership, but without proper engagement with government and greater autonomy, their ability to deliver is constrained."
The report welcomes recent steps - including the 2024 creation of the Council of the Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council - but warns that without clear purpose, statutory status, and stronger integration into national policymaking processes, these forums risk becoming little more than symbolic.
Key findings and recommendations include:
- Improving statutory IGR structures to replace reliance on informal personal networks;
- Enabling MCAs to experiment and innovate, with the ultimate objective of implementing more fiscal devolution
- Reforming the civil service to improve regional understanding and partnership working
- Strengthening cross-party collaboration between MCAs, ensuring IGR structures support place-based policy
- Defining the role of new IGR forums within the UK's wider governance architecture to avoid duplication and confusion
The report concludes that MCAs must be recognised not simply as delivery arms for central government, but as governments in their own right - capable of shaping and innovating policy in response to the unique needs of their communities.
"This report illustrates the urgency of Westminster and Whitehall adopting a new mindset to make English devolution a success," said Dr Anderson. "We cannot move forward with 21st-century place-based governance using 20th-century Whitehall mindsets. If we are serious about tapping the transformative potential of devolution, we need a new era of partnership between central and sub-national government."
Click here to access the full report.
