The Mancunian Way: Haunting civil servants

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“More control for local communities over their economic destiny so we will level up wealth and opportunity everywhere," the Chancellor said, delivering his first Budget as thousands of public sector workers took to picket lines across the country.

In what he termed a 'Budget for growth', Jeremy Hunt announced an extension of support for household energy costs, a major expansion of free childcare, a freeze on fuel duty and abolished the lifetime allowance limit on pensions. He also claimed the UK will avoid recession this year.

But this Budget was particularly significant for Greater Manchester. The agreement of a new ‘Trailblazer’ devolution deal will see Andy Burnham handed full control over a single local budget. Mr Hunt says the deal will give the mayor more financial freedom and make the combined authority more like a government department.

It’s been the result of much toing and froing between officials here and in Westminster and though Mr Burnham admits he didn’t get everything he wanted, he describes the deal as a ‘significant breakthrough’. Nevertheless, this new power will come with greater scrutiny with his decisions set to be pored over by committees of local MPs. More on that later.

Our region was also named as one of 12 Investment Zones set to benefit from £80m to invest in skills, infrastructure, tax relief and business rates reduction. The Chancellor announced the second round of transport funding worth £8.8bn over the next five years. And he listed Oldham and