Meeting in Glasgow
Andy Burnham said 'no nation left behind' after a meeting in Glasgow that brought together first ministers and representatives from the UK's four nations to discuss proposals to devolve more powers to regions and cities. The talks focused on how decision-making might be shifted away from Westminster to local and regional institutions.
Burnham described the gathering as an opportunity for national and regional leaders to align on priorities for greater local autonomy. He said the group discussed mechanisms to ensure all parts of the UK benefit from any future transfer of powers, stressing the need for an inclusive approach.
Broader debate on devolution
The meeting comes amid an ongoing debate about the distribution of powers between the UK government, the devolved administrations and local authorities. Advocates of further devolution argue that cities and regions are best placed to decide on transport, housing and economic development, while critics warn that changes must be carefully managed to avoid unintended consequences.
Next steps and significance
Participants discussed options for devolving additional responsibilities to regions and city leaders, but no formal agreement was announced. The session underlined the continued interest across the UK in exploring models of devolved governance and highlighted the political sensitivities involved in ensuring an equitable rollout.
The Glasgow talks are likely to feed into further discussions between national and local leaders about how powers should be redistributed, and how to balance national cohesion with local decision-making authority.