Overview
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened the National Economic Council in Glasgow on Friday and used his No10 North programme to offer a government‑to‑government process for deeper devolution to regions, cities and local communities.
- The UK government pledged £1 billion for innovation clusters over four years and opened work to devolve innovation funding and employment support, with special focus on schemes for young people.
- Devolved leaders described talks as constructive but made clear any new transfers must be negotiated and consented by their administrations, with Scotland’s John Swinney warning powers must not be moved “over our heads.”
- Wales’ First Minister said he will press for pilots to devolve welfare, policing and justice powers and a fairer funding settlement, while ministers also proposed shifting some decision‑making from devolved parliaments down to local authorities and communities; Northern Ireland was represented only by officials because of ongoing local tensions.
- The meeting sets a timetable for detailed negotiations and a Number 10 North policy sprint to design regional delivery models, a process that could change who runs local jobs support and innovation funding and therefore affect investment and services in communities across the UK.