What does Labour’s devolution white paper mean for England?
IfG experts discuss the government's plans to extend devolution across England and the challenges ahead.

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The government’s devolution white paper – published on 16 December – sets out the detail of Labour’s promised ‘devolution revolution’. Ministers plan to further empower England’s existing 12 metro mayors, to extend devolution to the whole of England, and to reorganise local government.
But what exactly will the white paper commit the government to do? Which powers will be devolved, to where? How will mayors be involved in delivering the government’s growth, energy and public service missions? How will the proposed reforms to local government work? And what challenges lie ahead for the government in implementing this ambitious agenda?
The Institute for Government’s online expert briefing on 18 December discussed the answers to these questions and more.
The panel:
- Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
- Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
- Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
- Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government
Our experts

Matthew Fright
Senior Researcher

Rebecca McKee
Senior Researcher

Akash Paun
Programme Director

Thomas Pope
Deputy Chief Economist
- Topic
- Devolution
- United Kingdom
- England
- Political party
- Labour
- Position
- Metro mayor Mayor of London
- Administration
- Starmer government
- Public figures
- Keir Starmer
- Publisher
- Institute for Government