Devolution needs proper funding and actual local control, otherwise it's just more Whitehall bureaucracy with a different postcode.

We should establish truly independent Regional Economic Development Agencies across the UK, drawing inspiration from successful models in federal European countries. Current devolution efforts often amount to little more than moving central government functions around, without granting real power or financial autonomy to the regions themselves, which is more important than...

These agencies would be responsible for significant regional investment in infrastructure, innovation, and skills, controlling budgets currently managed by various Whitehall departments. Each agency would be governed by a board comprising local business leaders, academics, and civic representatives, ensuring decisions are genuinely informed by regional needs rather than national political cycles.