In the United Kingdom, a junior minister with responsibility for devolution in England was first appointed in July 2024.
Background The Labour Party manifesto for the 2017 general election included a commitment to establish the post of a "Minister for England" within the Department of Communities and Local Government.
A position of "Minister for England", with responsibility for representing English interests within intergovernmental bodies, was proposed by a report titled "Intergovernmental Relations in the UK: Time for a Radical Overhaul?" published in The Political Quarterly in 2020.
In a report titled Devolving English Government published in April 2023 the Institute for Government and the University of Cambridge's Bennett Institute for Public Policy proposed the creation of an "Office for England" led by a "Secretary of State for England".
A dedicated ministerial role with responsibility for English devolution was created in July 2024, following Labour's victory in the 2024 general election, when Jim McMahon was appointed Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.
Responsibility for English devolution strategy and local economic growth was transferred from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) to the Cabinet Office's newly established Number 10 North in Manchester after Andy Burnham became prime minister on 20 July 2026.https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/devolution-strategy-moved-from-mhclg-21-07-2026/
Responsibilities The minister's responsibilities include:https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--307 English devolution; Strategic authorities and pan-regional bodies; Local and regional growth and investment
Ministers Name Portrait Entered office Left office Political partyPrime MinisterMinister of State for DecentralisationGreg Clark 13 May 20104 September 2012ConservativeCameronParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DecentralisationNick Boles5 September 201214 July 2014ConservativeCameronPenny Mordaunt14 July 201411 May 2015Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Northern PowerhouseJames Wharton11 May 201517 July 2016ConservativeCameronAndrew Percy17 July 201614 June 2017MayJake Berry14 June 201725 July 2019Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local GrowthJake Berry25 July 201913 February 2020ConservativeJohnsonMinister of State for Regional Growth and Local GovernmentSimon Clarke13 February 20208 September 2020ConservativeJohnsonLuke Hall8 September 202015 September 2021Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up, The Union and ConstitutionNeil O'Brien17 September 20216 July 2022ConservativeJohnsonLia Nici8 July 202220 September 2022Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling UpDehenna Davison8 September 202218 September 2023ConservativeTrussSunakJacob Young18 September 20235 July 2026SunakMinister of State for Local Government and English DevolutionJim McMahon6 July 20246 September 2025Labour Co-opStarmerParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Devolution, Faith and CommunitiesMiatta Fahnbulleh6 September 202512 May 2026Labour Co-opStarmerParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Devolution, Local Growth and CommunitiesNesil Caliskanhttps://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--30712 May 202622 July 2026LabourStarmer Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government, Devolution and Regional GrowthJim McMahon22 July 2026IncumbentLabour Co-opBurnham
See also Minister of state (United Kingdom) Parliamentary under-secretary of state Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Minister of State for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government (UK)
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