England set for new mayors and devolved powers as Westminster expands local governance

The UK Government has published proposals to introduce directly elected mayors across more areas of England and expand council powers over transport, housing and economic development, with Levelling Up Secretary Angela Rayner setting out the framework on 22 July 2026.

The plans build on existing combined authority models and aim to create new devolved structures in counties and smaller city-regions, with negotiations to begin with willing local authorities later this year. Ministers say the framework would allow areas without current metro mayors to adopt strengthened leadership and bespoke devolution deals.

Expanded mayoral system across English regions

Under the proposals, English counties and city-regions currently without directly elected mayors would be able to negotiate new governance arrangements with Westminster. The framework expands beyond the existing metro mayor model in areas like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, offering tailored devolution deals to willing local authorities.

Rayner's department confirmed that negotiations would begin with interested councils later in 2026, though specific timelines for implementation remain unclear. The proposals would grant enhanced powers over local transport networks, housing development and economic planning to participating areas.

Preservation of existing devolved settlements

The Government has emphasised that the English reforms would preserve existing devolved settlements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This distinction acknowledges the different constitutional arrangements already in place across the UK's constituent nations.

For Scotland, which has operated under its own devolved parliament since 1999 with powers over health, education, justice and other domestic policy areas, the English proposals represent a separate constitutional development rather than a challenge to existing arrangements. The Scottish Government retains its established powers and fiscal framework under the current devolution settlement.

Regional concerns over central control

Critics in some English regions have raised concerns about potential central control over funding and the pace of implementation. Several local authority leaders have warned that genuine local autonomy will depend on long-term fiscal commitments from Westminster rather than short-term political promises.

The concerns centre on whether the new mayoral and council powers would come with sufficient funding streams and genuine decision-making authority, or whether Westminster would retain effective control through budget allocations and policy directives. Some regional leaders have pointed to existing combined authorities where promised powers have been constrained by central government oversight.

Constitutional implications for future UK governance

The expansion of English devolution raises questions about the future balance of power within the UK's asymmetric constitutional arrangement. While Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed their own devolved institutions over the past quarter-century, England has largely remained under direct Westminster control outside of existing metro mayor areas.

Constitutional experts suggest the proposals could create a more federal-style system across England, potentially influencing future debates about UK-wide governance structures. The development comes as Scotland continues to operate under its established devolution settlement, with the Scottish Parliament maintaining its legislative competences in domestic policy areas.

According to the BBC report, the Government plans to begin detailed negotiations with interested English local authorities in the coming months, though the timeline for implementing new mayoral structures remains dependent on local appetite and Westminster's capacity to deliver on fiscal commitments.

Next steps for English local governance reform

The Levelling Up department will now engage with English councils interested in adopting the new mayoral and devolution framework. Local authorities will need to demonstrate public support and governance capacity before entering formal negotiations with Westminster.

Implementation timelines will vary by region, with some areas potentially seeing new directly elected mayors by 2027 if negotiations proceed smoothly. The success of the programme will largely depend on Westminster's ability to deliver meaningful fiscal devolution alongside the proposed governance changes, addressing the concerns raised by regional critics about genuine local autonomy.