The Complex Relationship Between Central and Local Government in England: Progressing Agendas Under Structural Exclusion

The key interest of this thesis is to investigate the evolving and intricate relationship between central and local governments in the United Kingdom, with a specific focus on the impact and challenges of sub-regional governance and devolution in England. It critically examines how policies designed to decentralise power from central government to local regions have been implemented, highlighting issues such as the misalignment between urban and surrounding areas, and the uneven benefits of devolution. Furthermore, the thesis explores how regional policy actors attempt to advance local agendas within the constraints of centralised structures and dominant policy narratives, drawing attention to the concept of structural exclusion and the interplay between agency and structure in regional policy implementation. Ultimately, it seeks to provide timely insights into the ongoing debate around devolution in the UK.