When it comes to his set piece performances in the House of Commons, George Osborne usually likes to wrong-foot his opponents by pulling a rabbit out of the hat. But while the Autumn Statement may have lacked any major surprises, the chancellor – like all good magicians – still provided plenty of tricks, illusions and sleight of hand.

On the surface, the Government's promise of a ‘devolution revolution' looks set to give local government the power to become truly self-sufficient. But if we peek behind the curtain, we can see very little substance behind these claims. In reality, local authorities will remain restrained by central control while having increasingly less cash to provide vital services to the community.