University of Glasgow professor Nicola McEwen said English devolution had been "very asymmetric", hindered by London largely viewing it as something that "happens somewhere else". Now in charge nationally, he has ordered departments including the finance ministry to make "targeted transfers of overarching strategic functions" to No 10 North, a minister told parliament this week. Burnham will also re-establish the National Economic Council, created in 2008 to deal with the global financial crisis. Burnham, who met the nationalist leaders of Scotland and Wales on Thursday, has said little about further devolution -- other than ruling out supporting independence referendums. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementWhile Scots voted to remain in the UK in 2014, the ruling Scottish National Party is pushing for a re-run.