Jun 4, 2026 · 10 min · 6 segments
With the Devolution and Community Empowerment Act now on the statute book, England’s devolution journey feels more settled but perhaps more uneven. In this episode, David and Mike ask whether the new…
David MarlowHost
Mike SpicerHost
It does create the three tiers of foundation, mayoral and established mayoral combined authorities.
It gives mayoral strategic authorities meaningful new powers, functions and soft power.
And for the six integrated settlement mayoral strategic authorities in areas like Mayor Clare Ward's East Midlands, who we interviewed in April, the Act provides real momentum and a clear progression route.
But the war, and this is where the provocation comes from, is whether England actually does get a complete functioning devolution map.
Because it does seem to me that the foundation combined authorities risk becoming a holding pen rather than a genuine stepping stone.
Large parts of England will not reach, I think, full mayoral strategic authority status this decade.
The integrated settlement model was built around specific fiscal convictions about place-based empowerment.
With a Labour leadership contest now a live possibility, the political ground shifting rapidly.
We might have a new chancellor, more fiscally hawkish or simply different priorities.
So the devolution program could be starved of resources just when it really needs to accelerate and rolled out.
Has government secured the structure of English devolution while leaving the harder question of who actually makes it work in places that don't yet have the powers, the capacity or the political conditions to do so entirely unresolved? And what does this mean for LED professionals in these places? How does it look to you, Mike?
It does create the three tiers of foundation, mayoral and established mayoral combined authorities.
It gives mayoral strategic authorities meaningful new powers, functions and soft power.
And for the six integrated settlement mayoral strategic authorities in areas like Mayor Clare Ward's East Midlands, who we interviewed in April, the Act provides real momentum and a clear progression route.
But the war, and this is where the provocation comes from, is whether England actually does get a complete functioning devolution map.
Because it does seem to me that the foundation combined authorities risk becoming a holding pen rather than a genuine stepping stone.
Large parts of England will not reach, I think, full mayoral strategic authority status this decade.
The integrated settlement model was built around specific fiscal convictions about place-based empowerment.
With a Labour leadership contest now a live possibility, the political ground shifting rapidly.
We might have a new chancellor, more fiscally hawkish or simply different priorities.
So the devolution program could be starved of resources just when it really needs to accelerate and rolled out.
Has government secured the structure of English devolution while leaving the harder question of who actually makes it work in places that don't yet have the powers, the capacity or the political conditions to do so entirely unresolved? And what does this mean for LED professionals in these places? How does it look to you, Mike?
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