One of the recognised fathers of devolution, Sir Richard Leese, last week announced his intention to step down as leader of Manchester City Council. As he steps aside after a quarter of a century, councils across the country have been weighing up whether to follow in his footsteps by deciding whether to submit an expression of interest in signing devolution deals including county deals. Leicestershire and Hertfordshire are understood to be at the front of the queue but here The MJ rounds up the current state of play across England.

Buckinghamshire