Devolution: Andy Burnham is asking regional leaders a pertinent question - are you up to the job?

The Devil will be in the devo-detail, appears to be the chatter amongst the political classes in mayoralties across the country today, after a weekend spent pondering quite what Prime Minister Andy Burnham has in store when it comes to his own push on the devolution of powers and pounds to the regions.

It is clear that Mr Burnham, previously the Mayor of Greater Manchester, understands the opportunities before ambitious metro and regional mayors. Mercifully, other mayors and regional leaders will proffer, he perhaps understands better than most the frustrations.

Chief among those frustrations over the years has been the ‘begging bowl’ stranglehold that an over-centralised, over-heated Whitehall has had on the country, whereby all and any development plans forged on a premise of growth and opportunity would need the blessing of central government.

Mr Burnham, without being unnecessarily pejorative, is determined to smash the begging bowl strangulation and replace it with sweetie bowls, all around the country, into which people who know their communities better than anyone can dip their hands quickly in order to secure investment against projects that will deliver the mast to which Mr Burnham has pinned his colours: good growth in every postcode.

Given this newspaper has long campaigned for more powers and pounds to be devolved locally, it would be disingenuous not to usher in this latest move in the right direction.

The challenge, now, will be in the quality of those to whom Mr Burnham appears to be entrusting with delivering his flagship policy. Are they up to it?