Andy Burnham's advisers are pushing for England's mayors to control social care, childcare, skills training, and other major public services in a dramatic devolution of power from Westminster.
JP Spencer, head of devolution policy at ThinkLabour, authored the proposal as part of planning for what Labour expects will be Burnham's government. The paper outlines a framework to shift substantial service provision authority away from Whitehall to local elected leaders.
The move reflects Labour's broader commitment to devolve power beyond London. Burnham, the Manchester mayor, has positioned himself as a devolution champion and signaled this agenda would shape his administration's approach to governance.
The proposal covers services traditionally managed by central government. Social care represents one of Britain's costliest policy challenges. Childcare and skills training directly impact economic mobility and workforce development. Granting mayors control over these areas would represent a fundamental restructuring of how England's public services operate.
Spencer's recommendations come as Labour prepares for anticipated power. The party has made devolution a centerpiece of its platform, arguing that local leaders better understand regional needs than distant Westminster bureaucrats. Burnham has emerged as a key architect of this vision, consistently advocated for metropolitan areas to manage their own affairs.
The devolution expansion faces practical obstacles. Funding mechanisms would require redesign. Central government would need to relinquish not just authority but budget control. Some services involve complex intergovernmental coordination that localization might complicate.
Yet the proposal signals Labour's genuine intent to restructure British governance. Rather than cosmetic reforms, this framework would hand mayors genuine autonomy over spending and policy. It reflects confidence in local democratic institutions and skepticism of centralized service delivery.
The timing matters. With Burnham positioned for higher office, these devolution plans transition from abstract policy discussion to potential governing blueprint. What Spencer outlines today could