“For the first time, mayors will have control of the 16-19 education budget, and I know that, in respect of early years and early intervention, we can transform outcomes through the power of place.”

Where it stands

No start date was given in the statement. The Cabinet's Rewiring the State statement (31 July 2026) lists mayors' control of the budget for 16- to 19-year-olds among the agreed reforms and says a white paper this autumn will set out a timetable for implementation.

What has happened

1. Sep 2026Lucy Powell tells the Commons that mayors will control the 16-19 education budget for the first time, Promised

About the cost

No costing published. The pledge moves control of existing 16-19 education funding from central government to mayors. No official figure has been published for how much of that budget would be devolved, or for any change in total spending. DfE describes it as the devolution of "billions of pounds of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds".

• DfE press release, 10 Sep 2026: Local leaders have say on reforms to prepare youngsters for work
• Cabinet Office, 31 Jul 2026: Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement

More detail

Related promises

• Publish curriculum and assessment reform proposalsLucy Powell · LabourPromised
• Publish national inclusion standards for SENDLucy Powell · LabourPromised
• Cut manufacturers’ electricity bills by up to 25%Blair McDougall · LabourIn plan