The Guardian view on Andy Burnham and devolution: it takes a powerful centre to decentralise power
Andy Burnham has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power to pursue an agenda of decentralisation. The prime minister is right that too much policy has historically been directed from Whitehall, but genuine control has not matched the rhetoric …
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power to pursue an agenda of decentralisation. This is a paradoxical move, as it takes a confident assertion of central power to give real power away.
Imagine you're trying to fix a big puzzle, but you need to use a lot of different pieces to make it work. That's kind of like what the new prime minister is trying to do. He wants to make sure that the people in charge of the country have the power to make decisions, but he also wants to give more power to the local governments. It's a bit like a big balancing act, but it could be really good for the country if it works out.
Analysis
A Powerful Centre for Decentralisation
The new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power to pursue an agenda of decentralisation. This is a paradoxical move, as it takes a confident assertion of central power to give real power away. The prime minister is right that too much policy has historically been directed from Whitehall, but genuine control has not matched the rhetoric of devolution.
The Challenge of Devolution
Reforms in recent years have created institutions with varying degrees of local autonomy, but genuine control has not matched the rhetoric of devolution. The Treasury is wary of facilitating profligacy in lower tiers of government, and heads of devolved administrations are adept at claiming credit when things go well and diverting the blame on to national government.
A New Era for No 10
The new prime minister has already asserted personal authority over economic policymaking by choosing a VAT cut on energy bills as his first emblematic act in office. His declared longer-term intention to reconfigure Britain's national political and economic model – an epoch-defining redistribution of power – will require a level of interdepartmental coordination for which there is not much recent precedent.
Key points
- The new prime minister has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power to pursue an agenda of decentralisation.
- This is a paradoxical move, as it takes a confident assertion of central power to give real power away.
- The prime minister is right that too much policy has historically been directed from Whitehall, but genuine control has not matched the rhetoric of devolution.
- The new prime minister has already asserted personal authority over economic policymaking by choosing a VAT cut on energy bills as his first emblematic act in office.
If the new prime minister is successful in his efforts to decentralise power, it could lead to a more effective and responsive government, which would be good for the country. He has already shown a willingness to take bold action, such as choosing a VAT cut on energy bills as his first emblematic act in office.
One potential downside risk is that the new prime minister's efforts to decentralise power could lead to a lack of coordination and accountability, which could make it harder for the government to make effective decisions. Additionally, the Treasury's wariness of facilitating profligacy in lower tiers of government could limit the effectiveness of the new prime minister's plans.
