A FOOL returns to his folly as does a dog to its vomit.Thus it was that George Osborne used the first speech of the new parliament yesterday to yet again — very sketchily — outline his plans for “radical devolution” for regions of England.

Plans under the Cities Devolution Bill will help to implement the so-called “northern powerhouse” — or should that be “poorhouse” — announcement he made last time round.

Cities would be given power over local transport, housing, planning, policing and public health — all the things the Tories have already wrecked.As usual with Osborne, the devil is in the detail, of which there was characteristically none.