Burnham's Devolution Plan Hinges on Real Tax Powers, Not Just Spending Control

Andy Burnham outlined a devolution plan in June 2026 to shift government power from Westminster to English regions. The proposal's credibility rests on a single pivot: whether regions gain genuine tax-raising or tax-retention authority. Without it, the plan merely repackages existing mayoral arrangements where central government retains fiscal control. That distinction separates structural reform from administrative reshuffling.