Jeremy Hunt didn't mention it in his 52-minute speech in Parliament on Wednesday (November 22), but buried deep in the 120-page autumn statement, a fundamental change with big implications for Greater Manchester was confirmed.
The city-region struck a deal with the government earlier this year which means that more power over transport, housing and skills would be given to local leaders.
The 'trailblazer' deal gives Greater Manchester more funding to build affordable homes, more influence over technical education and more control over train services.
But the biggest transfer of power in this latest devolution deal is about how public money is spent. The new arrangement, details of which were confirmed in the autumn statement, gives Greater Manchester its own devolved budget, similar to that of Scotland and Wales.
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