As ministers prepare for the Autumn Budget, there is a growing recognition across government that delivering economic growth, reforming public services and ‘rewiring' the state cannot be achieved from Whitehall alone. If the government's ambitions are to become reality, county and rural England must be at the heart of the solution.
County areas already play a central role in the nation's success. They are home to 27 million people, account for 47% of England's population, generate £832bn in economic output and support 12 million jobs. Yet despite their economic significance, many county areas continue to lack the powers, funding and investment available elsewhere.
