Regional slant on the northern powerhouse | Letters

Helen Pidd reports that at the local government select committee on Monday Kieran Quinn, the Labour leader of Tameside council, praised George Osborne for being "very clever in as much as he has been able to bully, cajole, persuade other ministerial colleagues to give up some of their powers" (Labour should seize the day on elected mayors, 28 October). Other Labour council leaders throughout the north are lining up for what they see as more powers coming their way from Osborne's "northern powerhouse".

What is lacking is any democratic involvement in these devolution agreements. Pidd reports that Greater Manchester "gains control over the region's 6bn health and social care budget". So who will get the blame for cuts in health and social care? Labour council leaders.