Andy Burnham says investment in north needed after election losses

The northern mayors have asked the government to commit to the new railway in its June spending review, with the aim of work starting in the 2030s.

A report commissioned by the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board found its construction would deliver an estimated £15 billion boost to the economy and create 22,000 jobs.

Burnham said he recognised the financial pressures facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves, but added “significant resource” was going into the construction of HS2.

He said: “Put in place the development funding to help us work with our private sector partners to put in place the designs and the plans to make this real.

“We believe it’s the right ask.”

He said it made “complete sense” for the government to back the project while the “world rail industry” was already in the UK working on the high-speed line.