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Episode details

Radio 4,03 Jun 2023,28 mins

Kings in the North

Available for over a year

Labour's Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester and the Conservative Ben Houchen in the Tees Valley are arguably their parties' highest profile figures outside London. The two metro mayors have built powerbases in their regions, helping shape a new wave of devolution in England. Both champion an agenda of 'levelling up'; both, it is said, have aspirations to higher office; both are shaping their parties' visions of the future - not just within their region - but nationally. Devolution expert Dr Jack Brown follows up on his programme 'London on the Line' to explore how power is being rebalanced away from Westminster to the North of England. What exactly do the 'Kings in the North' do, how are they seen in their regions and what will they do next? Producer: Leala Padmanabhan

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