Further cuts to local government spending to reduce the deficit are still to come, given the commitment by all parties to protect the NHS.
But, while all the parties talked warmly about devolution of powers and funding to cities and sometimes regions, a big question remains around what kind of devolution it will be and whether spending cuts will in practice leave cities toothless, with more powers in name than in practice.
Much of this is about control and flexibility – or the lack of it. The last few years demonstrate the point.
