Devolution to England

We evaluate devolution to England’s cities and regions, and make the case for a more coherent approach to English subnational government.

Since 2015, powers over transport, skills, housing and more have been transferred from Whitehall to local leaders in many parts of England. The government is committed to continuing this process, extending devolution to all parts of England that want it. The Labour Party also promises further devolution should it return to power.

Our research assesses the success of English devolution, evaluates the impact of metro mayors and combined authorities, and identifies how devolution could be strengthened. We advocate for a more coherent set of powers for mayors and other local leaders as well as simpler funding arrangements. We also work to improve the capacity and effectiveness of devolved institutions.

We are currently developing a set of proposals for how the next government should take forward the English devolution process. Read our working paper – which we presented at a private event at the IfG on 18 March 2024.

Local and mayoral elections 2024

On Thursday 2 May, voters across England and Wales will head to the polls in a major set of mayoral and local elections. Keep up with our latest content, events and analysis on why these elections matter and the results when they come.

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