The inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions is taking place in Edinburgh today, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leading discussions aimed at reshaping how the UK Government engages with devolved areas.
The council, established by Sir Keir, brings together first ministers and metro mayors from across the UK in a bid to improve cooperation and ensure that the government works more effectively with devolved administrations. At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of collaboration, stating: “This council is 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.”
He added, “I think that is as important as the substance of what we discuss—how we collaborate, how we work together. 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.”
Sir Keir stressed the need to harness the various identities within the UK, suggesting that facilitating cooperation between the nations and regions is a key responsibility for his government. He assured those attending the summit that all participants would be treated as “equal voices” with the shared aim of “solving problems”.
The primary focus of Friday’s meeting, according to the Prime Minister, is “investment and growth”, which he described as the Government’s top priority. “Growing the economy is the number one mission of this Government,” he said. “We’re not unique in that; most governments, nations, and regions want to grow the economy. But the question is not the aspiration—it’s whether we can roll up our sleeves and work together to deliver that growth, because that unlocks so much.”
Notably absent from the summit is former Downing Street chief of staff, Sue Gray. Ms Gray, who had been appointed as an envoy to the nations and regions after Labour’s victory in July, stepped down from the role due to concerns about becoming a “distraction” amidst intense media scrutiny. She has since been replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who led Labour’s successful election campaign.
Ms Gray, a former senior civil servant with decades of experience, cited “intense commentary about my position” as the reason for stepping aside, explaining that it could have undermined the work of the council.
The Council of Nations and Regions is expected to meet regularly as part of Sir Keir’s broader efforts to improve the UK Government’s relationship with devolved governments and foster greater cooperation on shared issues such as economic growth and investment.
