Andy Burnham has started cutting jobs in Whitehall as part of his plans for a landmark devolution of power. He announced that, as a first step in his devolution revolution, Whitehall officials will be posted to the offices of regional mayors. The Government billed the move as the “largest transfer of Whitehall capacity to local leaders yet”.
No10 North Meeting
Mr Burnham hosted an online meeting of regional mayors through his new No10 North headquarters in Manchester. Speaking afterwards, he said: “No10 North is putting more power into every postcode across the country so communities can unleash and unlock their own potential. I'm bringing together Mayors from different political parties to work on these challenges, because people deserve problem-solving rather than point-scoring.”
His No10 fixer, First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, added: “The days of Westminster hoarding power are over. This Government has kickstarted the biggest transition of power and resources in a generation, taking it from Whitehall and putting it back in the hands of local communities.”
Civil Service Secondments
From the autumn, high-performing civil servants will be seconded into mayoral authorities around the country. The move aims to build capability and capacity and accelerate the transfer of power to local areas, No10 said. In an initial pilot, every mayoral authority will receive between five and ten civil servants on a 6–9-month secondment.
Former Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham has already announced that he will strip the Treasury of its economic growth responsibilities, with these being moved to No10 North. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Civil Service jobs are set to be moved from Whitehall after the PM pledged the biggest “devolution of power in modern times”.
Announcements on Friday
As part of the announcement on Friday: a new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot will be set up in Yorkshire and the Humber, providing more opportunities to build successful careers in regions outside London; the Future Leaders Scheme, a civil service programme to develop high potential individuals, will be expanded to include mayoral and local authority officials; a digital devolution programme will be launched to unlock government data and build AI, digital and data capability in mayoral authorities; and ministers will work with mayors to fast-track major sports-led regeneration projects and bring forward jobs, investment and housing in the regions.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said: “We want to see more power and resource shifted away from Westminster and back into the hands of our communities where it belongs. We’re also giving our mayors the tools they need to push on and deliver on what matters for their community, whether that’s new transport links, more safe and secure homes, regeneration projects, or everything in between.”
Housing Scheme Controversy
Just days ago, Mr Burnham’s government announced that new housing schemes within 800 metres or ten minutes walk of busy Tube and rail stations will be in line for default planning approval. The move will be welcomed by many Londoners desperate to find a home that they can afford. But it has been criticised as running counter to the PM’s devolution pledge by taking decision-making away from local councils. It has also led to warnings that more homes could be built on greenbelt in commuter areas around the capital.
