Guardian Column Warns of Risks in Burnham's English Devolution Push
Columnist Phillip Inman argues that plans to devolve power across England, linked to Andy Burnham, face structural and political risks rooted in the UK's historically centralised system.
A column published by The Guardian's business section on Sept. 5, 2026, written by Phillip Inman, argues that efforts to push forward English devolution carry significant risks that are being underestimated.
According to the piece, the process of devolving political power within England is likely to be "messy and slow," attributing this in part to what the author describes as Whitehall's "ingrained anxiety about handing over money and power." This, the column states, is expected to result in piecemeal deals rather than a comprehensive devolution framework.
The article cites an upcoming deal for Cornwall as an example, noting that it will reportedly lack a newly created mayoral position, which the author says had previously been promoted as a key driver of devolution efforts.
Inman's column draws a comparison between the United Kingdom and France, describing both countries as having a long history of centralised governance. The piece argues that imposing a new political structure onto such a system carries substantial risks.
The column references the devolution push in connection with Andy Burnham, though the source excerpt does not fully clarify Burnham's specific role or title in relation to the initiative described. The article frames the devolution effort as one that Burnham pursues "at his peril," according to the author's assessment.
The piece is presented as opinion commentary within The Guardian's business coverage, reflecting the author's analysis of the political and administrative challenges facing English devolution plans.
Sources
- Catastrophic dangers await Burnham’s push for English devolution | Phillip Inman — The Guardian — Business
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
Related articles
Badenoch Accuses Burnham of ‘Fiddling While Europe Risks Burning’ Over Defence Spending
Conservative leader renews call for welfare cuts to fund higher military budgets, accusing the prime minister of delay on defence policy
Lib Dem President Josh Babarinde Calls for Party to ‘Flip the Table’ Ahead of Brighton Conference
Babarinde says the Liberal Democrats must target big tech and cryptocurrency billionaires while redistributing power and money to the public, according to the Guardian.
Guardian Columnist Says Reform UK Remains a Threat Despite Financial Scrutiny
John Harris argues in a Guardian opinion piece that Nigel Farage’s party, though weakened by investigations and controversy, could still contend for power in a future election
Albanese launches Australia's bid for UN Security Council seat, names former Murdoch aide as New York consul general
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia's formal candidacy for a two-year term on the UN Security Council in 2029–2030, concurrent with appointing Siobhan McKenna, a former News Corp broadcasting executive, as consul general to New York.
In Germany, Friedrich Merz's CDU suffers historic defeat in Eastern state
For the first time since 1949, the Christian Democratic Union has fallen below the 5% threshold in a regional election, the minimum required to gain seats in the local parliament.
Australian Opposition Defends Fuel Excise Cut Plan Amid Cost-of-Living Debate
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan says the Coalition's proposed 50% fuel excise reduction when oil exceeds US$100 per barrel is a sensible measure to address cost pressures.
Comments
Loading comments…