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Council of the Nations and Regions

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Council of the Nations and Regions
PurposeIntergovernmental relations
Region served
United Kingdom

The Council of the Nations and Regions is a planned body in the United Kingdom that will bring together the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Minister of Scotland, First Minister of Wales, First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and the directly elected Mayors of devolved areas in England.[1][2]

Background

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Former prime minister David Cameron had proposed that combined authority mayors sit within an "English Cabinet of Mayors" giving them the opportunity to share ideas and represent their regions at national level. This proposed cabinet of mayors would be chaired by the prime minister and would meet at least twice a year. However, no action was taken by him to form such a cabinet and the idea was quietly dropped.[3][4]

In 2022, Labour proposed the formation of three complementary bodies to enhance intergovernmental relations. A "Council of the UK" would bring together the prime minister and the heads of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A "Council of the Nations and Regions" would include the prime minister, the heads of the devolved administrations and mayors of combined authorities in England. A "Council of England", chaired by the prime minister, would bring together combined authority mayors, representatives of local government and other stakeholders in England.[5]

Plans for a council of the nations and regions were included in the Labour manifesto for the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[6] After Labour won that election, new prime minister Keir Starmer met with combined authority mayors on 9 July 2024 and announced the establishment of a council of the nations and regions.[7][8]

Membership

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The membership of the council is expected to be as follows:[9]

Name Nominating authority Position within nominating authority
Keir Starmer UK Government Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Minister for the Union
Angela Rayner UK Government Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
John Swinney Scottish Government First Minister of Scotland
Vaughan Gething Welsh Government First Minister of Wales
Michelle O'Neill Northern Ireland Executive First Minister of Northern Ireland
Emma Little-Pengelly Northern Ireland Executive Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
Sadiq Khan Greater London Authority Mayor of London
Nik Johnson Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Claire Ward East Midlands Combined County Authority Mayor of the East Midlands
Andy Burnham Greater Manchester Combined Authority Mayor of Greater Manchester
Steve Rotheram Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
Kim McGuinness North East Combined Authority Mayor of the North East
Oliver Coppard South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Mayor of South Yorkshire
The Lord Houchen of High Leven Tees Valley Combined Authority Mayor of the Tees Valley
Richard Parker West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor of the West Midlands
Dan Norris West of England Combined Authority Mayor of the West of England
Tracy Brabin West Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor of West Yorkshire
David Skaith York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor of York and North Yorkshire

Meetings

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The council is expected to meet every three months.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Labour vows to 'reset' relations between Scotland and UK". BBC News. 13 June 2024.
  2. ^ https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/16/labour-to-invite-englands-devolution-deserts-to-take-on-more-power
  3. ^ "Mayoral referendums: The mayors of the twinned cities". BBC News. 19 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Rival campaigns fight over directly-elected mayors in England". BBC News. 12 April 2012.
  5. ^ https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Commission-on-the-UKs-Future.pdf
  6. ^ "Serving the country". The Labour Party.
  7. ^ "UK politics live: Keir Starmer departs for Nato summit after making first speech to Parliament as PM". BBC News.
  8. ^ Sparrow, Andrew (9 July 2024). "Starmer praises Abbott and hails diverse Commons in first speech to parliament as PM – as it happened". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  9. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deputy-prime-minister-kickstarts-new-devolution-revolution-to-boost-local-power
  10. ^ Timan, Joseph (9 July 2024). "Everything Andy Burnham told Keir Starmer this morning in Downing Street meeting". Manchester Evening News.
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