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Financial Times
Burnham’s Middle England challenge on devolution
In a recent discussion, Andy Burnham proposed that devolving power from central government to local authorities could address the UK's sluggish economic growth and governance inefficiencies. He emphasizes the need for local governance to better meet diverse regional needs, while acknowledging the political complexities involved, including the risk-averse nature of the central state. Burnham aims to navigate these challenges to implement effective devolution that benefits all regions without fostering discontent, particularly in suburban areas.
MonitorConfidence: MediumMid term horizon
Published 29 Jun 2026, 22:40 UTC4 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Burnham argues for devolving power to improve government efficacy.
- He cites centralization as a barrier to UK's economic growth.
- Political challenges include overcoming Whitehall's risk averseness.
- Burnham's approach must consider diverse regional reactions to devolution.
- He emphasizes the importance of engaging suburban communities in the process.
Interesting facts
- Burnham is positioned as a potential future prime minister.
- Previous attempts at devolution faced conflicts over local governance boundaries.
- The concept of 'one size fits all' in governance is criticized.