[1][2] Powers were devolved to varying degrees to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by Tony Blair's Labour government in the late 1990s through the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 allowed for the creation of directly elected mayors to lead combined authorities.

Plans by the incoming Labour government for an English Devolution Bill were outlined in the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in July 2024.

The letters included guidance that proposals should seek to establish one or more single-tier authorities per area, with a "sensible geography which will help to increase housing supply and meet local needs" and with a rough population of 500,000 or more, including evidence of local engagement activity.

[13][14] Several were accepted onto the Devolution Priority Programme, which also included Local Government reorganisation and delayed elections: [15]