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Why Andy Burnham was in the US on one of the biggest days for Greater Manchester

It was an historic day for Greater Manchester. The city-region secured a groundbreaking deal, bringing with it 'a new era for English devolution'.

For the first time in the country, two city-regions are set to be treated like government departments with their mayors given full control of their budgets. It means Andy Burnham will be able to spend money according to his own priorities rather than having to bid for funding that comes with conditions.

The 'trailblazer' devolution deal - which will be a blueprint for other regions to follow - also gives local leaders new powers over transport, housing and skills. However, while the Chancellor was announcing the deal in his budget speech in Parliament on Wednesday (March 15), Mr Burnham was not even in the UK.

READ MORE: London learns from Manchester as Parliament restoration team visits town hall

Joined by Manchester council leader Bev Craig, the Labour mayor was in the USA on a trade mission which included a trip to a music festival in Texas. Mr Burnham even made an appearance on a major American breakfast TV show.

The tour saw Greater Manchester's leaders sign a trade deal with the state of North Carolina, announce a new global music conference in the city at South by Southwest festival in Austin launched by New Order and meet with a US banking giant in New York to discuss its Manchester office expansion plans. Speaking via video call after the devolution deal was announced, Mr Burnham said his presence in the US demonstrates the importance of his new powers.

"I think it really fits," he said. "I consider this to be the best place to be in some ways because we've been given a status that other English city-regions don't have.

"I'm literally about to go from this to a

Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk