Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy has pledged the “biggest transfer of power out of Westminster in British history” if Labour wins the General Election. But Jeremy Hunt may have beaten her to it with his Trailblazer devolution proposals and a Budget statement that, “for levelling up to truly succeed we need to unleash the civic entrepreneurship that’s only possible when elected local leaders are able to fund and deliver solutions to their own challenges.”

The chancellor aims to “equip authorities with deeper and additional policy levers to deliver on their priorities, including across local transport, employment, housing, innovation and net zero”, so that for “the first time outside of London, local leaders will now be able to set the strategic direction over the Affordable Housing Programme in their areas”.