Matthew Fright

@matthewfright

Associate director - devolution @instituteforgovernment.org.uk formerly @nao.org.uk analyst. PhD on history of national income accounts. Views are my own.

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Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

The statement concludes with a smaller section on the next steps but still some meaningful next steps. Writing to all leaders without devo asking their preference. As we saw with the call for the devolution priority programme in 2024 there was quite high demand at the time.

IfG chart showing demand for mayoral devolution in Wessex, Surrey, Kent, the South Midlands, Leicestershire in addition to the existing priority programme and mayoralties

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

Accountability - a really big topic. Good news seeing the MSA Chief Execs upgraded to an AO status. Devil will be in the detail. For a clearer take on what this means check out this www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/defaul...

Government announcement saying: "We will also strengthen local accountability mechanisms to reflect the greater funding freedom for mayors: chief executives of mayoral strategic authorities will become Local Accounting Officers, accountable for the use of public money. There will be a stronger role for the Local Audit Office, and we will discuss with the National Audit Office how it can complement this. The outcomes framework for mayoral strategic authorities will also be streamlined to ensure that the government and the public can hold mayors accountable for good growth and addressing inequalities in their area. This will be supported by a strengthened focus on timely and accurate place-based data from the Office for National Statistics and other bodies that will support outcomes-based decision making in places. We will also ensure that there is a clear role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and local councillors. "

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

There are some welcome lines on the need to develop institutional capacity. Eluding to the role of central government in enabling this. Building new MSAs can be a challenge. Lessons can be learnt from earlier English devo rounds - see www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Extract from government announcement saying: "We will make sure mayors and local institutions have the necessary capability to deliver on these additional powers, underpinned by transferring funding and resource from government where functions are devolved. This will be complemented by a programme of wider capacity and capability support from government. "

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

A lot in these paras - ambition of a complete devo map by 2028. If achieved this can help transfer powers from Whitehall and will strengthen the devolution by default approach suggested further down. The tone, again, is key inviting areas to state preference.

An extract from the rewiring of the state cabinet statement outlining a strategic authority in place by 2028

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

If you think this one looks complex... the reality is now even more complex than that...

An institute for government map showing areas by devolution and local government reorganisation status

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 11d

...even when these areas are taken into account we still fall short of full mayoral coverage (N.B. we won't necessarily reach the almost 70% population coverage by 2028, a decision taken last year to delay mayoral elections reopened the approvals process to create a new mayoralty)

An institute for government chart showing that by 2028 England still lacks full coverage of mayoral devolution

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 22d

In his resignation speech, outgoing MHCLG secretary of state Steve Reed quoted remarks made by Andy Burnham at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference 2026

Extract from resignation letter by Steve Reed MP in which he said "At MHCLG, I sped up work to devolve power out of Whitehall and was grateful you acknowledged this "increasing clarity of drive towards devolution"

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· 26d

Local government reorganisation decisions are due today, shaping the future of local government in many areas. For those thinking about what comes next, the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk making a success of LGR series, delivered in partnership with @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social, is a great resource.

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· May 7

In Wales, as @meganisaac.bsky.social's explainer outlines the electoral system is changing. Now 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs) will be elected under a closed list proportional system. The number of constituencies will decrease from 40 to 16 with each constituency electing six MSs.

An IfG chart showing the 2026 Senedd regions prior to the 2026 electio

An IfG chart showing the new Senedd regions

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· May 7

Polls are open till 22:00 for the Senedd, Scottish Parliament and English local elections. To find out more details about the elections head over to the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk local and devolved elections hub www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/top...

An English polling station at a local public library

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Apr 20

An Institute for Government map showing the former constituency boundaries across 40 areas

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Mar 2

Starting now Rhun ap Iorwerth is speaking on stage at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk stream online via the link below

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Jan 22

Starting now - Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales is talking at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. follow the link below to livestream.

First Minister Eluned Morgan talking at the Institute for Government

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Sep 30

Starting now - a great @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel at Labour Party Conference: How should the government implement and enhance devolution across the North of England? (Arena Room - Clyde, ACC)

A photo taken of an IfG panel event at the Labour Party Conference

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Sep 23

In December 2024, the govt notified councils it would launch a new LGR round and in February 2025 invited leaders in all two-tier council areas and 19 neighbouring unitary authorities to reorganise.

An Institute for Government map showing the 164 district councils and 21 unitary authorities that have been asked to reorganise by the government

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· May 2

While we await further election results, here is the current status of political control of the regional mayoralties across England courtesy of @sarahroutley.bsky.social. Further @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis will follow throughout the day..

A map from the Institute for Government showing the current result of the four mayoralties up for election in May 2025 as at 10:15 on 2 May 2025 (1 Reform UK, 1 Labour, 2 yet to be announced). The other mayoralties have Labour mayors with the exception of Tees Valley which has a Conservative mayor.

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· May 1

And if that wasn't enough there's a swathe of other elections underway: a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, 14 county councils, 8 unitary authorities, 1 metropolitan district, the Isles of Scilly and 1,274 parish councils

An Institute for Government chart showing the areas up for election in May 2025

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Apr 2

Starting now, Andy Burnham is talking at the IfG. Details on how to watch online linked below

Andy Burnham and Akash Pain at the Institute for Government

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Mar 3

With an ambitious round of local government reorganisation underway alongside the roll out of devolution across England, in our new @instituteforgov.bsky.social report, in partnership with Grant Thornton, we outline how local leaders can successfully deliver both at the same time

A screenshot of the front page of the IfG report produced in partnership with Grant Thornton "Dual Delivery"

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Feb 10

The six areas listed in the DPP represent almost a sixth of England’s population (15%). Creating new mayoralties in all these places – as well as in Lancashire, as is also planned – will take the proportion of England’s population covered by mayoral devolution to almost 70%.

An Institute for Government chart showing the progress of the percentage of England's population covered by devolution. Starting from around 15% in 2014, this rose to almost 50% in 2025 and is projected to rise to almost 70% in 2026. At this time 80% of economic output will be covered by devolution and almost 60% of England's landmass

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Feb 10

First, this is a meaningful step toward 'completing the map' of devolution. With Sussex, Hampshire, Essex, East Anglia, Cumbria and Cheshire all due to hold mayoral elections in May 2026. The government has also signalled Lancashire is a priority for mayoral devo

An institute for government map showing that Sussex, Hampshire, East Anglia, Kent, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire are priorities for devolution

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Jan 9

So how can a local area identify whether its proposals are "sensible geographies" and will give them access to the devo priority programme? Councillors will no doubt cross reference the principles outlined in the White Paper...

An extract from para 2.2.1 of the English Devolution White Paper showing the factors the government will consider when deciding on a "suitable geography" these are: scale, economies, contiguity, no devolution islands, delivery, alignment and identity

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Jan 9

Ministers have outlined clear aims to fill in the devolution map (and are seeking new legal powers to do this). As a result, many areas want to get to the front of the queue to gain access to these powers.

An extract from para 2.2.3 of the English Devolution White Paper showing that ministers will have new powers to compel areas to adopt devolution

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Jan 9

The govt argues that mayors can drive growth, can convene stakeholders to solve local problems and can lead at a regional level. The govt has also made clear non mayoral devolution is only a stepping stone towards future mayoral powers

An extract from the English Devolution White Paper showing non-mayoral deals are only a stepping stone to mayoral devolution

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Jan 9

The English Devolution White Paper introduced a new priority programme for areas seeking mayoral devolution "at pace" and would see regional mayoral elections in May 2026. So why go for a mayor?

An extract from the English devolution White Paper which introduces the Devolution Priority Programme

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Dec 17

Yesterday I spoke to ITV meridian news about the implications of the new English Devolution White Paper for the South East - drawing on a recent @instituteforgov.bsky.social report

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Dec 10

Fortunately we have a neat diagram summarising these rules...

An Institute for Government diagram summarising the rule for the voting on the NI democratic consent motion

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Nov 26

E.G. were the govt to continue the previous administration's policy of unitary authorities of 500k or more (see dashed line below) this would be larger than most other single tier authorities in England

An institute for governmetn graphic showing that most single tier governments in England have a median of between 200 and 300k residents while counties have a median of over 800k

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Nov 26

In England, there are 132 unitary local authorities, covering 71% of the population. These consist of: The City of London and the Isles of Scilly, 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan districts, 62 other unitary authorities. There are currently 21 county councils in England...

An institute for government map showing the distribution of single tier and two tier local governments across the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have single tier. In England many rural areas have two tier local government

Matthew Fright@matthewfright· Nov 6

We've argued for three reforms. First, building on proposals from CFGS we've argued for Devolved PACs, drawn from a membership of local councillors (to ensure democratic accountability) with stronger powers and funding.