Warner, Sam, Richards, David, Coyle, Diane et al. (1 more author) (2021) English Devolution and the COVID-19 Pandemic:Governing Dilemmas in the Shadow of the Treasury. Political Quarterly. ISSN 1467-923X
Abstract
This article explores the question of devolution in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on English local government. Criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis is widespread and tends to focus on the highly centralised nature of the British state. Here, we attribute the challenges faced by regional and local government in responding to the pandemic primarily to the asymmetric nature of power relations that characterise financial planning and control mechanisms, devised and overseen by the Treasury. We argue that the on-going crisis underlines the need for a democratic form of devolution—including further fiscal powers for regional and local government—to support the economic recovery. In a context of increasing fiscal uncertainty, the Treasury should seek to unlock the existing powers of local leaders by reforming centralised budgetary constraints and taking accountability and monitoring mechanisms closer to citizens.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The Authors. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Politics (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 26 Mar 2021 09:40 |
Last Modified: | 13 Dec 2024 00:09 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12989 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/1467-923X.12989 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:172597 |
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Filename: 1467_923X.12989.pdf
Description: English Devolution and the Covid-19 Pandemic:Governing Dilemmas in the Shadow of theTreasury
Licence: CC-BY 2.5