PART ONE: No but yes
“ABSOLUTELY NOT!" exclaims Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central and the vice chair of Labour's 2015 General Election campaign. "The Labour Party would not halt DevoManc should we form the government in May."
What I can say is that we want to go at the pace of the fastest not the slowest over this. Greater Manchester is in a position to forge ahead
Phew. Wow. That was a close shave. Greater Manchester people with imagination and a belief in a more exciting future - one that might deliver huge benefits - are excited about the idea of greater devolved powers for the 2.7m strong region.
DevoManc, as it's unfortunately termed, emanates from the somewhat bizarre embrace between the largely Labour controlled ten boroughs of Greater Manchester and the deep blue branch of the Coalition, the Conservatives. Opposites attract when needs must. Or you could point out to cynics and fools who say 'nothing ever changes' this proves it does.
Progress has been rapid, astonishing when considering the snail's pace of movement usually shown by the British political establishment unless faced with the need to muzzle dogs after a spate of nasty incidents.
Within six months of the first announcements the local authorities and the Conservatives were shaking hands over the transfer of over £6bn-worth of NHS control followed by news that the region would keep 100% of business rate growth in the Budget.
Roll on future devolution of transport, skills and planning powers.
Just as Confidential gets excited about Labour speeding on with these changes should they come to power, Lucy Powell goes cautious.
“We agree in principle with devolution, for example enabling a local approach to healthcare. We’ve been advocating something similar for years. Where we would ask questions is the haste of delivery over the NHS measures and whether they've been thought through properly. Has the government rushed into this because of the proximity of the general election? We have to ask if this moving about of money and resources will prove a problem not a solution? Is it a ploy by the Tories. The Greater Manchester scheme leaves a lot of questions unanswered."
Er... right.
So while its excellent news that Labour will keep DevoManc, is Powell saying the time frame for devolving powers to Greater Manchester is likely to be longer under a Labour government?
Red and Blue. Sir Richard Leese and George Osborne. But where's the national Labour Party representative? Labour's plans for devolving powers to the English cities and regions might promise £30bn of funding over five years - including funding for housing, transport, business support, employment and adult skills - but it is to be spread across the country. This could mean a bit of something for everybody but not enough for anybody.
"Ed’s been clear, he wants to win power to give it back," says Powell. "We'll enable Greater Manchester to go further then the current proposals with the Conservatives but we'll also make sure others can share in those freedoms, whether urban authorities or counties."
She doesn't accept this is a watering down of devolution but a braver step forward and one that is more clearly funded. "We think we have a far stronger national scheme for the NHS of £2.5bn extra funding coming from initiatives such as a mansion tax," she says before throwing a bone of encouragement.
"Remember, it is mainly Labour Party authorities who’ve driven Greater Manchester into this position of trust. The way the Combined Authority has worked together - and with its partners - has put it into this position of strength over devolution. What I can say is that we want to go at the pace of the fastest not the slowest. Greater Manchester is in a position to forge ahead, it is at the forefront, it has that advantage already."
Sounds good. You heard it here folks.
PART TWO: Doing their best
Yet Confidential has heard rumours of Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham's fury over the secessionist move of members of his own Labour Party in the corridors of Greater Manchester's town halls. Does Powell think the national Labour Party has been left holding onto Tory coat-tails over devolution? Has the national party been left in an embarrassing position?
“No!" Powell exclaims with force for the second time. "It’s not embarrassing at all. Nationally and locally politicians are elected to do the best they can for the people they represent. Labour councillors are doing just that. They’ve had to implement unfair cuts and this is their pragmatic approach to making the best of a raw deal. Meanwhile Osborne and Cameron (the Chancellor and the Prime Minister) are attempting to prove they are the best friends of the North while tearing their way through the services that help Northern residents. It’s part of a very transparent attempt to soften the brand."
She pauses for a second. "It's easier when you're in power to appear active because as the government you can do things. On policy decisions such as those over devolution we’ve been well-ahead, but of course, until May 7th, we can only tell people what we intend to do. After that date we're hopeful we can deliver as well.”
Brave words, but speaking off the record to several Labour Party bigwigs in the region there has been discord between local and national party representatives. Some in the national party see the way the locals have worked with George Osborne as akin to treachery.
Time to reflect on Greater Manchester devolution for the National Labour partyPART THREE: Time to make the brave decision
In the final analysis political parties return to core principles. The Conservative notion of regions competing with each other to prove their worthiness for more devolved powers is entirely predictable. The fact the largely Labour local authorities in Greater Manchester think they can take that competition ethos and convert it into a fairer deal for their residents is equally typical. Each thinks they're getting the better deal.
That's where the Labour Party nationally - despite its devolution promises should they win the General Election - has a problem. As editor of Confidential I chaired a debate about devolution a week ago. Most of the audience was on the left side of Labour, most of them were against devolution, or reluctant to embrace it. These were people who wanted an equitable distribution of resources across the UK where need is greatest, not to the area which presents best.
Their words and thoughts revealed the centrist view of politics required of the committed socialist. It's built-in to the credo and experience shows that whenever in power across the globe, the left tends to favour a bloated centre. This is sometimes necessary. A fully developed welfare state as part of a national project was overdue by the end of WWII and Labour Prime Minister Clement Atlee delivered.
Lucy Powell, MP, Manchester ConfidentialNow given 'Fat Cat' London - something Atlee could never have envisioned on the present 2015 scale - there is a desperate need to spread the wealth. It's time for British cities to catch up with the independence enjoyed by their Continental and North American counterparts where up to 80% of funding is controlled locally as opposed to over 90% coming from central government in the UK.
In my Old Trafford home as Labour MP Kate Green's flyer rattles through the letter-box it comes with five big pledges. None of them refer to devolution.
"We would not halt DevoManc," says Lucy Powell, MP.
Enthusiasts for a more mature Greater Manchester, one that makes decisions for itself in an adult 2015 manner, will hope she's as good as her word, will hope her party's inner-leftie will prove more pragmatic, moderate and inline with up-to-date thought on cities rather than the more doctrinaire throwback idea of old Labour. Enthusiasts will also hope a vengeful party leadership led by Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham doesn't scupper Greater Manchester's moment.
It's time for Greater Manchester to prove the point and let the others follow.
You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter @JonathSchofield or connect via Google+
