Civil servants to be seconded to English mayors' offices

The government said on 21 August 2026 that senior officials will be seconded — temporarily posted — 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."