In his first speech since the Conservatives came into power, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined the cities devolution plan and mayoral opportunities. Speaking in Manchester's Victoria Warehouse in front of an audience of the region's business community, the Chancellor denounced the current model of centrally run funding as 'broken' and that it 'made people feel remote from the decisions that affect their lives'.
Devolved powers over housing, transport, planning and policing
was proffered as the remedy, with Greater Manchester upheld as the
devolution 'blueprint' for this new model. The city and its
surrounding towns have opted for an elected mayor and are a central
pillar of the Chancellor's Northern Powerhouse agenda.
The Chancellor went on to say that 'other cities will now have
to decide if they're prepared to accept a city-regional or
city-area mayor, in exchange for getting these extra powers and
resources.'
What with a Cities Devolution Bill set to be in the Queen's Speech later this month, David Cameron's earlier appointment of James Wharton as Parliamentary Under Secretary (Northern Powerhouse) and the Chancellor's announcement of economist Jim O'Neill to lead the initiative, it seems as if the Northern Powerhouse is firmly at the front of post-election agendas.
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