Andy Burnham has made devolving power away from Westminster his central policy objective since becoming prime minister. In a cabinet paper published in July, his government outlined plans allowing mayors to retain a share of income tax revenue generated in their areas while gaining greater control over skills, transport, and public services. Burnham has framed this initiative as addressing the historic North-South divide in England, describing the nation as having “always felt like two countries” in his 2024 book.
Observers characterize the devolution plans as potentially transformative for how Britain is governed, representing what some describe as a “seminal moment.” However, significant risks accompany the initiative before implementation has substantially begun. The stability of the entire project could be threatened by isolated scandals, such as the type of local authority bankruptcies that have occurred in recent years.
Local media infrastructure presents a substantial challenge to effective regional governance. Regional journalism has experienced continuous decline, with major newspaper publishers announcing significant workforce reductions. News deserts persist across England despite some efforts to address coverage gaps. This erosion of local media capacity reduces the number of journalists available to scrutinize council meetings, budget reports, and municipal decision-making.
Parallel to media decline, civil society participation has contracted due to economic pressures and the erosion of community institutions. Cost-of-living challenges have constrained citizens’ ability to attend local meetings, participate in campaign groups, or serve as councillors. Local authorities’ divestment of public assets and outsourcing of services to private providers has further diminished the community relationships that traditionally facilitated democratic engagement. These institutional weaknesses create a complex backdrop for Burnham’s ambitions, potentially compromising his efforts to renew public faith in democratic governance through enhanced regional authority.
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