North gives cautious welcome to English devolution
Author: Andrew Bounds and Jim Pickard, Financial Times |
Leeds and Sheffield are likely to join Manchester in gaining greater control of local spending within weeks as the UK government presses ahead with English devolution. Both city regions are likely to receive more powers over transport, skills, business support and housebuilding before December’s Autumn Statement.
The devolution of powers, however, is far less radical than northern cities are requesting. They had sought a range of additional powers including control over welfare spending, local rail franchises and business rates.