Andy Burnham urges Scottish government to accelerate local reform

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is urging the Scottish government to accelerate local government reform to enhance regional governance and economic growth. Burnham is expected to engage with Scottish First Minister John Swinney to discuss frameworks for shifting powers from the central government to local authorities.

The Scottish government is currently considering a radical restructuring of its local administration, which has remained largely unchanged since 1996. Proposals include replacing the existing 32 local authorities with six new regional authorities responsible for major policy areas such as education and economic development. Under this framework, between 120 and 160 community authorities would manage localized matters like licensing and town center improvements.

While Burnham advocates for increased devolution, he has clarified that he does not intend to impose the English metropolitan mayor model on Scotland. Instead, he is pushing for a cooperative approach to regional governance that addresses employment support and economic stability.