'We have the power to do things in a Manchester way': Angela Rayner promises 'devolution revolution'

Angela Rayner has committed to making “irreversible” changes to devolution laws in order to ensure that Northerners will no longer be “dictated” by Whitehall.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP and Deputy Prime Minister, who also has responsibility for housing, communities and local government, has pledged to deliver devolution across the whole of the North of England. It comes around 18 months after Greater Manchester secured its latest devolution deal, giving mayor Andy Burnham more control over transport, housing and technical education.

Speaking ahead of her speech opening the Labour Conference on Sunday (September 22), Ms Rayner said she intends to hand devolved powers to areas such as Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire through devolution deals. During the general election campaign, the party promised Greater Manchester would also be given new powers to take devolution further.

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Ms Rayner said: “For 14 years, the over-centralised Westminster-knows-best attitude of the Tories left millions of people left behind, neglected, ignored and invisible. Britain’s economy has been held back and dragged down by their failed trickle-down experiment.

“This Labour Government will harness the potential in our economy, handing power back and putting communities in control, so innovation and growth can bloom in every part of the country. Our devolution revolution will shift power away from Westminster, reigniting the fires of our economy, unleashing investment and driving economic growth by trusting in our local leaders who know their areas best.

“I have seen how in my own patch, devolution has put rocket fuel under local