With Theresa May's new government seemingly hesitant about giving its full backing to devolution, Labour had a prime opportunity at conference this week to steal a march on the Conservatives by seizing the cities and devolution agenda and putting it at the heart of party policy.

After all, the party has a strong record in this area, with the creation of devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland still regarded as among the biggest successes of the Blair Government.