The Government’s plan for devolution in England promises a major shift not only in the geographic coverage but also in the depth of devolved powers, with elected mayors and their strategic authorities having greater control over transport, skills and employment policy, housing and planning, and economic development funding. In her recent Mais lecture, Rachel Reeves also signalled plans for fiscal devolution, allowing mayors greater control over tax revenues raised in their strategic authority. The direction of travel seems clear: from administrative devolution to economic, but is England really moving towards meaningful economic devolution – or just decentralised delivery of national policy? What does this mean for regional growth and inequality? And what do the experiences of Scottish and Welsh devolution tell us about England’s future prospects?

Speakers:

• Chair: Chris Giles (Financial Times)
• Helen Godwin (Mayor of the West of England)
• Graeme Roy (University of Glasgow & Scottish Fiscal Commission)
• Lucy Martin (The Brunel Centre)
• Akash Paun (Institute for Government)

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Chris Giles is the economics commentator at the Financial Times. He writes a fortnightly column and the weekly newsletter, ‘Chris Giles on Central Banks’. Previously, he was economics editor and served as a leader writer. Chris is also an Honorary Professor of Practice at the University College London Policy Lab. Before joining the FT, he worked for the BBC, Ofcom and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.  

Helen Godwin is the current Mayor of the West of England (2025-present). Helen’s has publicly stated her Mayoral commitments as: “reliable buses and trains that connect communities, affordable homes in the right places with essential services, and pathways to green jobs that power the region’s future economy.” Helen has significant experience across business and local government, including serving as a local councillor for the Southmead ward of Bristol (2016-2021).

Graeme Roy is Professor of Economics, Head of the College of Social Sciences and Vice-Principal at the University of Glasgow. Graeme is also Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Scotland’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster. Prior to joining Glasgow in March 2021, he was Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde. Graeme is also a former Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Government, where he was Head of the First Minister’s Policy Unit. 

Dr. Lucy Martin is Director of The Brunel Centre, an impact-focused research hub based at the University of Bath. Lucy leads the Centre’s mission to bridge academic research, policy, and business insight, by delivering open-access data and economic intelligence that helps to drive sustainable, inclusive growth across the West of England. In previous roles within the UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Lucy was responsible for research strategy across a range of technological domains including quantum computing, big data and robotics.

Akash Paun s Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government (IfG) n London. He leads work on the state of devolution in all parts of the United Kingdom, and has a particular focus on the powers, performance and policy choices of mayoral strategic authorities in England. Akash has previously worked at the UCL Constitution Unit, the British Academy, the London School of Economics, and as an expert adviser to the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales. 

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Artwork by Alys Jones Illustration.