The UK’s system of government is run by the politicians in Westminster and Whitehall

They are remote and unresponsive to the needs of the people of Widnes, Winchester and Wythenshawe.

It is a confusing Frankenstein’s monster.

The devolved nations have far fewer responsibilities and financial control than our European competitors. England, of course, has no devolved parliament at all.

This lack of local responsibility and control, along with the confused and irrational plethora of local and regional government models across the UK baffles the public, erodes trust in, and limits engagement with, local government resulting in a democratic deficit.

The size of some local authorities and the overbearing control imposed on them by central government, means councils cannot easily offer bespoke responses to the unique problems within their communities. There is little room for manoeuvre.

Local governments become little more crown agents for Ministers in Whitehall, with little wriggle room to apply local solutions to local issues.

We propose a structure for the governance for the United Kingdom, where power is devolved, through subsidiarity, to the lowest possible level and so that decisions are taken closest to where they will have their effect.

Take back control - READ our report on Decentralisation