Devolution needs a balance sheet, not just vague promises from the City

My husband was talking to a mate who teaches in Manchester, apparently the local council there is still scrabbling around for funding for basic road repairs. They've got all these grand devolution plans, which sound great on paper, but the reality on the ground is potholes the size of small cars. It’s like the government gives with one hand and then takes away with the other, or at least expects local authorities to magic up the cash.

The problem with all this devolution talk, and Lord O'Neill’s involvement or lack thereof, is that it always seems to be about power shifts rather than actual financial responsibility. We need to see the numbers. Where is the new money coming from for these devolved regions? Is it just re-allocated grants that still leave areas like mine underfunded, or are we talking about new revenue streams?