Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, responding to proposals by Greater Manchester Councils for additional powers and budgets and a new leadership structure, said:

“These are welcome proposals from Greater Manchester councils to devolve more powers and budgets and for a full-time leader overseeing the Combined Authority. Labour wants to see powers, funding and control handed down not just in Manchester, but across England and Britain.

“Ed Miliband has backed the plans drawn up by Lord Adonis to devolve £30 billion of budgets and push power away from Whitehall to our cities and counties. Unlike the Government we have plans to go further than devolving budgets, including by enabling them to keep more Business Rates revenue so they can benefit from additional growth.

“The Tory-led government has failed to back Labour’s plans to make local areas the masters of their own destiny. Ministers came into office promising to rebalance Britain’s economy, but instead things have gone backwards.”

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