The North-East Combined Authority represents another step in the uncertain progress of English devolution

The North East Combined Authority has had a quiet start to its life, in stark contrast to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority which was launched last year to great fanfare. The North East differs from Greater Manchester is the comparitive lack of unity between the constituent councils and council regions, and as John Fenwick argues, progress towards a powerful and cohensive sub-governmental unit will depend on overcoming several barriers.