Will the budget deliver ‘growth in every postcode’?

The chancellor outlined ‘the biggest wave of devolution in a generation’ – but large swathes of the country are excluded

In just two years, there could be dozens of mayors preparing to spend billions of pounds as part of Andy Burnham’s mission to devolve greater powers across England.

Fresh devolution deals could also be in place following negotiations with leaders in Scotland, Wales and possibly Northern Ireland, allowing the prime minister to say at the next election that he has fulfilled a promise to rewire Britain’s political landscape with a view to giving more local control.

This was the message from John Healey’s first budget, which outlined the direction of travel and put in some milestones, including a 2028 commitment to devolve some income tax receipts to mayors of strategic…