The argument for territorial devolution starts from the fact that the present system is unable to govern either effectively or equably. Its administration, based in one small corner of England, appears to view the other parts of England (as well as Scotland, Wales and Cornwall) as provinces of an empire.

Until 2006 the devolution which Westminster had so far offered to England was regionalisation: a top-down division into administrative areas with fixed boundaries beyond debate. This was the opposite of regionalism: regions built on people's own sense of identity. It was shown that the former regional scheme could not command widespread support and loyalty without real powers and accountability to the local and very local communities within them.

For discussion of, and reports on, the 'official regions versus people's regions' debate, see 'Whose Regions?' page. See also an outline of the factors now influencing Devolve! towards new thinking on territorial devolution and towards a new integrated approach to all forms of devolution and empowerment. The generic term Territorial Devolution is now prefered except where 'Region' is used with a qualifying adjective.

For an outline of official thinking around the government decreed regions, see 'Their Regions' page.

For the debate on defining features of partial autonomies, see 'What is Territorial Devolution?' page.