The seminar - entitled "How to make devolved government work? A narrative from modern British history" - will examine how, between 1860 and 1914, Britain's largest provincial cities transformed themselves from deliberately inactive to highly pro-active devolved centres of government. 

 

Prof. Szreter explained: "Cities which competed to charge businesses and property-owners the lowest local rates in 1850, came instead to pride themselves on achieving the lowest death rates for workers and their families. If central government wishes to revitalise devolved, local government in Britain today it can be helpful to consider how this was achieved in the recent past."