UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ministers are considering devolution reforms that could give mayors control of schools, hospitals, and local services to improve accountability and cut costs.
As reported by the Guardian, the British government is drafting reforms to grant mayors wider authority over hospitals and schools, marking a fresh devolution drive in England’s public services.
What did Steve Reed say about giving communities power?
Local government secretary Steve Reed wants to expand mayoral authority, including greater control over NHS services and parts of the justice system.
He said,
“Giving communities more power is why I am in politics. As a former council leader, I cut violent youth crime and improved social housing by empowering local people.”
Mr Reed added,
“This government’s mission is to transform the country. That starts with putting people in control of their own communities and lives. That is how we restore trust in politics and restore pride to the areas people call home.”
He took charge at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government shortly after Angela Rayner’s resignation.
Mr Reed’s role grants him control of the devolution bill, giving local leaders more control over spending and bidding for new powers.
The housing secretary aims to extend the proposals, potentially giving mayors new powers through Commons amendments.
He told allies that devolution can enhance services and cut costs, citing his experience as Lambeth council leader.
As head of the South London borough, Mr Reed introduced the “co-operative council,” giving residents more control over service delivery.
According to the housing secretary, the model improved local government efficiency during national funding cuts, but critics warned it allowed deflection of responsibility for declining services.
What Did Labour Together Say About Expanding Mayors’ Powers?
Labour Together, a thinktank co-founded by Steve Reed, has endorsed the proposals in a report due Monday.
The report urges giving mayors authority to oversee public services, from regulating schools to managing probation.
The document says,
“Empowering people and places means the first line of delivery and accountability should be exercised by the lowest tier of government where users mostly reside … Criminal justice could involve people in meaningful community service linked to the local areas in which they offended.”
It added,
“Over the coming years, this would mean strategic authorities and local authorities becoming responsible for health, education, criminal justice and other services to increase place-based leadership, accountability and integration.”
The report also calls for additional devolution, including standard mayoral funding and a regional replacement for the House of Lords, though the government opposes it.
How could mayors gain control over hospitals and social care?
Supporters of the plans argue that mayoral control of hospitals and social care could help redirect NHS funding to local community schemes, cutting costs.
Hospital funding decisions are currently made by NHS integrated care boards, but the Labour Together report suggests giving mayors the power to appoint health commissioners.
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor and potential rival to PM Keir Starmer, can shape health services but lacks full control over budgets.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has a 10-year plan to shift NHS focus to community care and illness prevention rather than treatment. His efforts face challenges as hospital services are nationally managed, while social care is controlled by under-resourced local councils.
What Role does Josh Simons play in expanding devolution?
Mayoral control of services would need clearance from ministers across government, a process overseen by Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons, former head of Labour Together.
A panel of ministers led by Mr Simons from MHCLG, Downing Street, health, and education, is working on expanding devolution across government.
Andy Haldane’s views on devolution risks
Andy Haldane, ex-chief economist at the Bank of England, warned that the government risks backing away from devolution.
He added,
“Two Reform mayors play into that. A Labour mayor on manoeuvres plays into that, too. That will be a great shame, because I don’t see a way of them meeting their growth mission short of a full-throated and wholehearted embrace of devolution in a much more expansive way than is contained in the devolution bill.”
Key details about the NHS 10-year plan
The plan aims to shift care from hospitals to local Neighbourhood Health Centres to provide integrated services. It prioritises a digital transformation, expanding the NHS App and implementing a single patient record system.
The focus is on prevention rather than treatment, using genomics and AI for predictive care. Public health measures will tackle issues like obesity and health inequalities.