An opinion article published in El País on 1 July 2026 discusses how UK mayor Andy Burnham could use a Manchester‑style devolution approach to counter Reform UK and build fresh local leadership. While political decentralisation can alter the local business climate, the piece cautions that it is unlikely to translate into stronger economic growth, leaving the growth outlook unchanged. Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), Reform UK party, local authorities, UK businesses. Continued negotiation of devolution deals across UK regions, possible pilot initiatives in Greater Manchester, and close monitoring of economic indicators to gauge any growth effect. The El País opinion piece argues that adopting a ‘Manchester’ model of devolution could help contain Reform UK and nurture new local leadership, yet it stresses that such political changes alone do not address the deeper productivity or little to boost growth. It notes that without accompanying investment and productivity reforms, the macroeconomic impact remains limited. Consequently, businesses may see only modest shifts in the regulatory environment rather than a meaningful economic stimulus.
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