Boris Johnson has had an epiphany. While his Conservative Party conference ‘fringe' session was dismissed as a bit of a damp squib – with none of the usual Boris fireworks aimed at Mrs May's parade – he has seen the light on fiscal devolution to councils.

A cynic may point out that this was not always so clear-cut for Mr Johnson. As mayor of London, his localist credentials were more about devolving down to the mayor – himself – than the capital's boroughs.