The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

The government’s levelling up strategy to tackle regional inequality promises a “revolution in local democracy”. It seeks to do this largely through regional devolution – setting up more localised governments with their own mayors to give greater autonomy and power to the “left behind” regions.

Adding more mayors to English regions is central to the UK government’s “levelling up” plan. From day one, part of the vision has been to expand mayoral devolution – giving more powers to regional combined authorities, rather than just being ruled by Whitehall.

"Is Boris going to pay £1,600 for the string of parties held at Whitehall?"

Amanda Martindale, from Stanley in County Durham, is "infuriated" about having paid the fine, given the recent revelations about the string of lockdown-flouting parties in Whitehall