Andy Burnham Devolution Tracker

Budget 2026 publishes Fiscal Devolution Roadmap and extends devolution coverage

The Chancellor published a Fiscal Devolution Roadmap alongside the Budget, setting out a new funding model for regional and local government. Income tax will be assigned to all mayors from 2028, and business rates will become a fully locally retained tax by the end of the decade, with mayors receiving 20 per cent from April 2027 and the local authority share rising to at least 70 per cent in the coming years. The Government also plans to legislate so that all Strategic Authorities can introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy, and will take forward a first wave of Business Rates Retention Zones with nine Mayoral Strategic Authorities, subject to Full Business Case approval and legislation.

The Budget also sets a goal of full devolution coverage across England by the end of 2028. Ten new devolution arrangements are in the final stages of agreement, which would bring over 90 per cent of England's population under a devolution deal and cover the whole of the North for the first time. Supporting measures include £165 million in 2027-28 to roll out Good Growth Funds in places with a mayor in 2027, a £1.5 billion borrowing facility for Mayoral Strategic Authorities that will be operational by 2028, and a £150 million uplift in capacity funding for Strategic Authorities.

Regional business coverage reported a mixed reaction to the Budget overall, with the devolution focus welcomed. Writing in The MJ, the IFS's David Phillips called the approach a balanced first step: areas can gain from growth, with safeguards against large falls in funding. He noted that income tax rates will continue to be set centrally, and that key details, including the size of the mayoral share and spending needs baselines, are still to be settled at next year's Spending Review.

Burnham offers Scotland 'deeper' devolution in Motherwell speech

In a speech in Motherwell, Burnham called for deeper devolution within Scotland and offered the Scottish Government a localised model of employment support, currently run by the Department for Work and Pensions, shaped by Holyrood and based on the 'names not numbers' approach pioneered at Easterhouse. He also pressed Holyrood to move faster on local government reform, and said the UK Government is looking at devolving innovation, enterprise and employability funding. The offer is expected to go to the first National Economic Council meeting with the devolved nations' leaders since he took office, within a couple of weeks.

Liverpool City Region signs first Place Delivery Agreement with Homes England

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority became the first place in England to sign a Place Delivery Agreement (PDA) with Homes England and its new National Housing Bank. The agreement shifts their relationship from collaboration to joint delivery, with a dedicated unit aligning national investment behind the mayor's housing, regeneration and growth priorities. Homes England has said it intends to agree similar PDAs with more regions in the coming weeks.

Local leaders to be able to levy 'tourist tax'

Mayors and local leaders will be handed the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy. This will be charged as a percentage of the cost of accommodation, rather than as a flat fee, and was announced in advance of the inaugural Mayoral Council at No10 North.

Review of Local Government Reorganisation announced

Plans for a large reorganisation of local government have been paused after the Government received new legal advice that suggested they might not comply with the law. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) explained the review was to ensure the process was robust and aligned with the new government's aim to 'rewire the state'.

Burnham 'open' to devolving policing in Wales

Burnham said he is open to the idea of giving the Welsh Government control of policing in Wales. Burnham said that while he could not make promises, he would be 'open to the conversation', and that with wider policing reform underway, it was a 'good time to look at those issues'.

£39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme launched

Over £2 billion of the funding is expected to be spent in Mayoral areas outside of London. Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities are tasked with setting the strategic direction for the programme in their areas, with more funding expected to flow directly to mayoral authorities as the programme develops.

Mayors given powers to green light developments

Mayors across England are given 'call in' powers to take the most important planning decisions in their areas. They will be able to take over key planning applications which impact on local growth, and direct a council to take it forward or refuse it.

Top Civil Servants to be posted into mayors' offices

Government departments are to second officials into mayoral authorities, working with mayors. This is intended to drive new leadership, talent and data programmes to build mayoral authorities' capacity to deliver, and is billed as a response to priorities raised by local leaders.

NHS instructed to accelerate initial devolved board timeline

In his second week in office, Burnham announced an acceleration of the alignment of NHS integrated care board boundaries with local and regional government geographies. Completion has been brought forward from the original 10-year plan to 2029.

The 'Rewiring' of the State is announced, promising 'devolution by default'

The Cabinet Office released their statement titled 'Rewiring the State', detailing how devolutionary reforms will become the de facto decision in policy making going forwards.

Fiscal devolution: mayors to retain tax revenue

Government proposed that metro mayors retain a share of income tax and business rates collected in their regions, replacing part of the existing grant-based funding model. This was welcomed in principle by London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, with caveats over the capital's distinct fiscal role.

No 10 North opens in Manchester

A northern seat of Government opened, intended as a 'situation room for growth' and described by Government as the engine room of devolution. Civil servants began relocating from London, and the National Economic Council was relaunched with regional mayors at the table.

Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet created

At his first meeting with the Cabinet, the new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) was announced. This is the structure that will house the new Manchester-based 'No 10 North' operation, and will be led by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo.

Becomes Prime Minister on a devolution mandate

Burnham succeeded Sir Keir Starmer and set out a 'rewiring the state' agenda, placing the transfer of power from Westminster and Whitehall to regional and local Government at the centre of his premiership.