Centre for Cities response to select committee report on post-Brexit devolution

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has today published its today published a report arguing for the Government to “re-think devolution in the UK” post-Brexit.

The report calls for the Government to consider further devolution to English city regions and metro mayors and for a systematic review of Whitehall and governance structures across the UK a year after Brexit.

In response, Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said:

“This report is welcome recognition of the progress that has been made on the city region devolution in recent years, and the need to go further on this agenda as the UK leaves the EU.

“The most immediate task for Government should be to prioritise devolution deals for the remaining big cities in England yet to agree one, which would extend devolution to cover nearly half the population of England.

“We also back the Select Committee’s call for a systematic post-Brexit review of governance structures across the UK. It should have a working assumption to devolve policies and funding to the city or city region level wherever appropriate.”

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Brian Semple (Head of Communications at Centre for Cities) on 0207 803 431 or b.semple@centreforcities.org.