'BACK US AND HELP EVERY MANCUNIAN FULFIL THEIR POTENTIAL'

LOCAL LEADERS TELL NEW PRIME MINISTER WHAT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THE REGION

- JOSEPH TIMAN

SIR Keir Starmer has promised that his Labour government would work closely with our local leaders in Greater Manchester.

The new Prime Minister, who led his party to a landslide victory at the general election, told the M.E.N. in January that he would work 'hand in glove' with mayor Andy Burnham.

Last month, he also told the M.E.N. that the Greater Manchester MPs in his top team - which includes representatives from Manchester, Tameside and Wigan - will be 'powerful advocates' for the city-region.

Sir Keir has now appointed some of our MPs to the cabinet - including Ashton-under-Lyne's Angela Rayner, who is the deputy Prime Minister.

Labour now holds 25 of Greater Manchester's 27 seats in Parliament with our MPs expected to lobby for the city-region too.

And it's not just parliamentarians and the regional mayor who will have the ear of government. Manchester council leader Bev Craig is high up in Labour's local government circles and will be a leading voice advocating for our city and town halls across the country.

But what will our local leaders be asking for now that Labour is in power? The M.E.N. has spoken to key figures to find out.

HOUSING

Labour has promised to build 1.5m over the next five years by updating planning laws with mandatory housing targets and creating 'new towns' across the UK. Ms Rayner, who is now the housing secretary, also announced a big boost to affordable housing last year.

But the party is yet to say how many homes will be built in each area and where these 'new towns' will be. Greater Manchester already has a joint development plan, with nine of our 10 councils approving the controversial masterplan in March after many rows.