The party conference season underlined how devolution and decentralisation is now the ‘big idea’ of British domestic politics.

Core Cities’ conference programme was an extremely busy one with events at Liberal Democrat, Labour, Conservative and – for the first time – SNP.

Among the topics of discussion were how city devolution could transform the lives of our poor and the benefits of fiscal devolution – particularly timely given the chancellor’s announcement on retention of business rates during his speech at Conservative Party conference.