The ambitious agenda for greater regional devolution, championed by figures such as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, faces a fundamental challenge: the need for central government to confidently assert its power in order to effectively decentralise it. This 'structural paradox' is at the heart of discussions regarding how Prime Minister Louise Haigh's administration can successfully empower areas across the UK.
One institutional mechanism highlighted as potentially crucial in navigating this paradox is the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (Nista). Established in April 2025 under the previous Keir Starmer government, Nista brought together the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. Comprising approximately 250 civil servants, it reports jointly to both the Treasury and the Cabinet Office. While its Cabinet Office accountability was previously less pronounced, the recent structural reforms within Prime Minister Haigh's new Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, endorsed by the Institute for Government, could shift this balance, giving the Cabinet Office a stronger role in Nista's direction.
The effectiveness of Nista, and indeed the broader devolution agenda, is seen to hinge significantly on the relationship between Prime Minister Haigh and the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey. Commentators suggest that Nista could become the operational expression of this critical partnership. Chancellor Healey's pre-parliamentary career, which included extensive work in disability rights and trade unionism, notably contributing to the design of the national minimum wage, suggests an instinct that might align more closely with a 'preventive state' approach than his prior service in the Treasury during the Brown era might imply. This background could prove vital in ensuring that Andy Burnham's devolution ambitions are not entirely curtailed by traditional Treasury orthodoxy.
Beyond the institutional framework, the success of devolution also depends heavily on the capabilities and drive of regional mayors and civic leaders tasked with its delivery. There is a recognised need to better understand the strengths and motivations of these individuals across the country, not just those in prominent cities. Concerns have also been raised that the focus on devolution, while laudable, may inadvertently centre too heavily on areas like Manchester, potentially overlooking the diverse needs and identities of other regions, particularly across the North of England.
The stakes for getting this relationship right are considerable. The historical capitulation of Chancellor Denis Healey to Treasury orthodoxy in 1976 is cited as an event that shaped British politics for half a century. The current government's ability to empower regions without succumbing to centralising pressures could similarly define the political landscape for decades to come, impacting services, infrastructure, and economic growth across every postcode in the country. The paradox is real, but Nista, under a strengthened Cabinet Office, represents a tangible institutional attempt to address it.