The devolution package for Greater Manchester that George Osborne announced last week is one of the most significant pieces of decentralisation this or any other government has undertaken.

Its proposals are eye-catching, especially the creation of an elected mayor (previously opposed across Manchester), but it does not come out of the blue. Momentum has been building towards this for some time.

Manchester has a successful history of collaboration between the 10 authorities that comprise the city region. It has already created the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It was one of first and largest City Deals. And, of course, we could equally cite 20 years of successful regeneration and a longer history of radical politics and of civic and commercial innovation in the city.

At the Local Government Information Unit, we’ve long argued that political and, to a degree, fiscal power need to be local. We argue that as well as having a democratic premium, localism is the best way to drive reform in public services. It’s good to see a head of intellectual and political steam building around that broad proposition and striking to see it being lead by the chancellor. But what are the implications of the new Manchester settlement for other parts of the country?