Local governments and authorities

Reform UK’s Performance in May 2025 local elections

677 councillors, 2 mayors and one MP

Significance of Reform UK’s Mayoral wins

Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire

becoming first in both those areas leading a new combined authority

Mayoral policy making powers

Boris bikes reduced carbon emissions in London by 30% since 2001

Andy Burnham’s £2 single journey fair cap in Manchester in 2022

Sadiq Khan his introduced congestion charges which have reduced carbon emissions in the heart of London since 2016

voter turnout

often low in Mayoral elections 35% in Greater Manchester 2021

42% in London Mayoral Election 2021

uneven powers

London Mayors have significant powers on transport and housing others such as East Midlands have received no new powers for decades

Arguments for more devolution in England

-address economic inequality

-reduce London’s dominance of public spending

-more targeted policy making

arguments against devolution in England

expensive - Bristol allocated £400 million to its mayor before abolishing it

turnout is very low

many regions have voted against it

West Lothian Question

Welsh and Scottish MPs can vote on policies like education and healthcare affecting England but English MPs can’t vote on Welsh and Scottish Laws

English Parliament

only 31% in favour in polling from 2023

Labour plans for greater devolution

Cumbria , Sussex and Brighton 6 key devolution areas