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Sir Keir Starmer chaired the first-ever meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh, bringing together the prime minister with leaders from the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as England’s mayors. Power sharing between the different UK governments can lead to tension and disagreements. However, the early signs of improved relations between the British and Scottish governments have been positive, with much discussion aimed at securing a future for the Grangemouth industrial site.
There have been some spectacular rows between the devolved administrations and UK departments over the years, with fights over funding being the most common. In some cases, ministers in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast team up to make joint representations to the Treasury in London. At other times, struggles have centered around where power lies and whether that should change. Relations between the Scottish and UK governments have been particularly fraught at times — not least during the Brexit debates — and with the possibility of a second independence referendum.
The first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions has been called to improve the workings of government. Speaking at its opening, the prime minister said the council was a “statement of intent on my behalf, and on behalf of the government, about the way in which we want to work with all of you. Because the UK is really strong, we’ve got so much to offer, particularly when it comes to growth and investment, but we are a bit complicated.” The council will discuss major investments in renewable energy technology across the UK ahead of a further investment conference on Monday.
The Council of the Nations and Regions is not quite the “powerful, legally-mandated” body that Gordon Brown envisaged in his commission on the UK’s future. It’s not clear what decision-making power it will have. However, Downing Street seems determined to avoid giving the impression that the new body will merely be a talking shop. Despite its efforts to improve relations, maintaining a positive relationship between the parties until the next Holyrood elections in 2026 would be a significant task
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