In July 2019, just four days after taking office, Boris Johnson took to a podium at the Science and Industry Museum in the heart of Manchester to make a series of bold promises.
As had been the case during a bombastic election campaign - which won over some of the region’s key 'red wall' constituencies - the pledges came thick and fast.
Affordable housing. Public services to support families and help the most vulnerable. Tackling crime. Better connectivity, including high speed rail between northern cities.
A boost for culture. True devolution. Then, and since, Johnson’s speeches have often been characterised by those two magical words - Levelling Up. READ MORE: Defiant Boris Johnson finally announces resignation as Prime Minister as he addresses the nation And yet, less than three years later, big questions remain around whether Boris Johnson’s government’s ever really put its money where his mouth was to address the blatant inequalities that exist between cities like Manchester and cities like London.
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