What Liz Truss in 10 Downing Street could mean for Greater Manchester
05.09.2022 - 21:03
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
After a seemingly never-ending Conservative leadership campaign, Liz Truss was today announced as the UK's new Prime Minister. The former foreign secretary became only the third female PM in history as she beat rival Rishi Sunak in the race to succeed Boris Johnson.
But what will a Liz Truss premiership mean for Greater Manchester and how could it affect people here facing some of the harshest economic conditions in recent memory? Here we take a look at where Ms Truss is likely to stand on some of the big issues facing our region:
A curious sideshow to the campaign trail was the sight of Ms Truss and Rishi Sunak talking up their northern credentials at every turn. But where does Ms Truss stand on Levelling Up, the drive to increase regional funding described as Boris Johnson's 'defining mission'?
The policy was largely absent during the leadership campaign, but Ms Truss has committed to several key levelling-up policies, including Northern Powerhouse Rail (see below). She's also has promised to channel money into neglected towns, said a levelling-up secretary will sit in her cabinet and says she supports more metro mayors.
Read more: Liz Truss statement in full as she's elected as new Prime Minister
But how those commitments, which are reliant on a significant amount of state intervention, fit with her stated aim of reducing taxes remains to be seen.
The levelling up pledge was central to the so-called Red Wall seats the Conservatives gained in 2019. Greater Manchester constituencies such as Leigh and Heywood and Middleton turned blue for the first time in history as the Tories gained their biggest majority since 1997.
Ms Truss was mocked for claiming she grew up in 'the heart of the Red Wall', but believes her
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