With perfect timing, albeit unplanned, the English Core Cities Group launched its devolution declaration in London on the same day last week that George Osborne announced a Cities Devolution Bill in Manchester offering English cities more powers over housing, transport, planning and policing.

There was a catch to the Chancellor's offer; only cities with a directly elected mayor would get the extra responsibilities. The merit or not of this clause was one of the subjects discussed among core city leaders at a lunchtime discussion organised by The MJ and supported by PwC after the London launch event.