The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act was the beginning, not the end, of breaking away from the command and control culture of Whitehall that has held back us for too long.
It established devolution by default, created the right to request devolved powers, expanded the role of mayors and combined authorities, alongside stronger neighbourhood governance and community ownership. Localism and devolution must go hand in hand.
Together we grew mayoral leadership, and with a fair wind the whole of the North will soon be covered, alongside new mayoralties across the South and East of England.
We’ve seen in Greater Manchester the difference of devolution with powers to take control of the bus network, skills and housing, but there is a lot more to do. The skyline of a booming city can feel a world away from the streets of Oldham unless we have a programme which allows every part of the region to benefit from growth.
In the end devolution will only reach its full potential if central government changes too, with No. 10 driving it as a core mission of government; and councils are the foundations on which devolution is built. They need resourcing and empowering to get things done on the ground.
A turbocharged programme for government can take devolution to the next level, and allow all of the country to finally realise its potential.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 