The Council of the Nations and Regions (Welsh: Cyngor y Cenhedloedd a’r Rhanbarthau) is a quasi-intergovernmental political body in the United Kingdom.
A chapter of the report was dedicated to the matter of improving intergovernmental relations and devolution.[3][2][4] One proposal was for the formation of a "Council of the UK", which would bring together the UK prime minister and the heads of the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to manage relations and coordinate efforts between the four governments.[5] A second proposed body was a "Council of England", chaired by the prime minister, which would bring together the mayor of London, combined authority mayors, representatives of local government, and other stakeholders in England. A third proposed body was the "Council of the Nations and Regions", which would bring together the UK prime minister, the heads of the three devolved governments, and the mayor of London and combined authority mayors in England.[5]
Establishment
First meeting of the council, 11 October 2024
Plans for a council of the nations and regions were included in the Labour manifesto for the 2024 UK general election.[6] Following Labour's victory in the election, on 9 July the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer met England's combined authority mayors and the mayor of London and announced plans to establish a council of the nations and regions.[7][8][4] The Scottish Government said that they had not been informed of the plans prior to the announcement.[4]
At the 2024 Labour Party Conference, Labour reiterated its commitment to the proposals, saying that all areas of England "should eventually be covered by mayoral devolution", which would then mean all areas of England would be represented on the Council.[9]
The first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions took place on 11 October 2024 in Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh.[10] The work of the council will be supported by a secretariat of UK government officials.[11][clarification needed]
^While the press release states that the deputy prime minister and the minister for intergovernmental relations will attend, neither have attended a meeting as of 2024.
^White, Hannah; Thomas, Alex; Tetlow, Gemma; Pope, Thomas; Davies, Nick; Davison, Nehal; Metcalfe, Sophie; Paun, Akash (26 September 2024). "Seven things we learned from the Labour Party Conference 2024". Institute for Government. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
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