Whitehall officials to be posted into mayors' offices under devolution pilot

The government announced on 21 August 2026 that high-performing civil servants will be seconded to mayoral offices across England from autumn. Each of the 18 mayoral authorities will receive five to 10 officials for six to nine months, with mayors able to request specific skills. The BBC reported Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the scheme would help communities "unleash and unlock their own potential."