Evidence Session 6: Smart Devolution to Level Up

Smart Devolution to Level Up

Panel discussion with Neil O’Brien MP, Polly Mackenzie and Mike Emmerich

The Commission for Smart Government held a panel discussion on Thursday 18 March 2021, where Commissioners examined our discussion paper Smart Devolution to Level Up with Neil O’Brien MP, Co-Chair of the Conservative Party Policy Board; Polly Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Demos; and Mike Emmerich, Founding Director of Metro Dynamics.

The session looked at the role devolution can play in Whitehall reform and how empowering localities and regions could help to realise the levelling up and net zero agendas.

Commissioners present included Deborah Cadman (Chair), Lord Bichard, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, Lord Herbert, Margaret Hodge MP, Daniel Korski and Sir Mark Rowley. Also in attendance was the Commission’s Research Director Martin Wheatley.