South Yorkshire’s mayor has welcomed the Government’s devolution plans, arguing they will help the region “break free” from powers concentrated in London. The claim matters because devolution could give local leaders greater influence over decisions affecting economic development, transport and public services.

The article text provided contains no further reporting beyond the headline and a website access message, so specific measures, funding figures and timescales cannot be confirmed. The mayor’s comments appear to frame devolution as a way of shifting decision-making from central government to South Yorkshire.