Manchester to still get £100m levelling up cash

Greater Manchester's councils will still receive a "desperately needed" £100m cash injection pledged by the previous government, it has been confirmed.

There had been concerns the funding, promised under the Conservatives' levelling up strategy, could have been withdrawn after Labour's general election victory this summer.

But ministers have confirmed the money, earmarked for projects in areas including Bolton, Wythenshawe, Leigh and Denton, remained available.

Jo Platt, Labour MP for Leigh, said she was "ecstatic" to learn the "much-needed investment" would still go ahead.

Platt was one of three Wigan MPs, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to ask for the release of £6m promised in levelling up funding for council projects in the town.

About £11m was pledged in February for town centre regeneration in Leigh and Ashton-in-Makerfield.

But before last week's Budget, Platt said there had been some uncertainty about whether the money was still available.

She said securing cash for the town had "taken an awful long time" and repeated bids for help.

It would bring "much needed investment for our great towns", she said.

Projects in Bolton, Wythenshawe, Leigh and Denton are each set to receive up to £20m.

Meanwhile projects in Farnworth, Chadderton and Heywood will also be funded.