Hello and welcome to Inside Briefing Extra, a podcast from the Institute for Government.

The question for today is where next for English devolution?

We'll be discussing what progress the government has made

in devolving power across England, whether its approach has been a success, and what Labour's

devolution agenda might look like if it forms the next government. We're very pleased to be

working in partnership on this special episode with Grant Thornton, UK. My name is Akash Pounden. I'm

Programme Director for Devolution here at the IFG

and a close observer of all things Devolution related, as are, I think it's fair to say, all four of our excellent panelists.

So joining me here in the IFG basement studio, first of all, we have Simon Christian, who is director of public

service consulting at Grant Thornton, UK. Simon, welcome and thanks for your support of our work.

Thanks, Akash. Great to be here. Cheers. And then dialing in, specially from her holiday, I believe, is Charlotte Aldrich, Chief Executive

of the Centre for Progressive Policy, which is an economics think tank that champions

inclusive growth.

Charlotte, thank you for joining and apologies for disrupting your week off.

Not for all.

Thank you for having me.

Also with me in the studio is Mark Sandford, who's a senior research apologies for disrupting your week off. Not at all. Thank you for having me.

Also with me in the studio is Mark Sandford, who's a senior research analyst at the House of Commons Library,

devolution and local government expert, and once upon a time, my colleague at the UCL Constitution Unit quite a while ago.

A very long time ago. But good to see you again, Mark.

And finally, we're joined by Adam Hawkes ago. But good to see you again, Mark. And finally,

we're joined by Adam Hawkesby, former advisor to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. So he's been involved in making devolution work in practice. And now he's deputy director of the think tank onward.

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