In one of the biggest developments since the launch of the Devolution Bill, new local government secretary Steve Reed has signalled his ambition to dramatically expand mayoral powers in England; potentially giving regional leaders control over key public services like health, education and criminal justice.
A report from Labour Together, a thinktank Reed helped found, lays out a vision for a much broader devolution model that goes far beyond infrastructure and transport. Instead, it suggests mayors could appoint their own health and education commissioners, direct NHS budgets, and even have a role in overseeing probation and regulating academy schools.
“Giving communities more power is why I am in politics,” said Reed, speaking to The Guardian last week. “That is how we restore trust in politics and restore pride to the areas people call home.”
Reed took over the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) following Angela Rayner’s resignation, giving him responsibility for the Devolution Bill currently making its way through Parliament.
While the bill already opens the door to further powers, Reed is reportedly seeking amendments that would enable central government to hand over major new responsibilities to mayors unilaterally.
🩺 What could this mean in practice?
If implemented, metro mayors, including a future Mayor of Sussex, could:
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Take control of hospital funding and appoint local health commissioners
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Integrate NHS budgets with local social care
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Oversee academy school performance and governance
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Run local probation services and reshape offender rehabilitation
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Commission public services in a way tailored to local needs
The argument is that localised, place-based control could improve outcomes while saving money; but it’s not without risks.
🧮 The political calculation
Such a shift would require sign-off from other departments, including Health and Education. Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons, another Labour Together alumnus, has been tasked with convening ministers to explore how greater devolution could work in practice.
📍 What next for Sussex?
The implications for Sussex, still in the very early stages of its own combined authority and mayoral planning, are potentially significant. Current proposals limit powers largely to transport, skills and economic development. But if Reed’s vision takes hold, a Sussex Mayor could one day be a key player in health reform, education accountability, and place-based criminal justice.
The shift from infrastructure to social infrastructure would bring both opportunities and scrutiny. And with an elected mayor from May 2026, the debate around readiness, resourcing, and local consent is only just beginning.
As ever, Sussex & the City will track these developments, and what they mean for power, place and possibility in the region.
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