Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have given a full-throated commitment to "levelling up" the North, amid a tense Tory leadership debate.
Ms Truss said she was '"completely committed" to the levelling up agenda and pledged "urgent action" if she won the race to Number 10.
While Mr Sunak gave "an unequivocal massive yes" to the policy. The comments came as newspapers across the North united to warn Mr Sunak and Ms Truss not to "turn their back" on the region once in Downing Street.
It follows reports that the levelling up agenda, which was a key promise at the 2019 general election, could be shelved after Boris Johnson's departure. Read more: With thousands in Greater Manchester living in poverty we warn Sunak and Truss: Don't turn your back on the North Mr Sunak, speaking at a BBC hustings event this evening, said he would regenerate town centres, invest in education and cut taxes on business investment as a means to boost northern towns.
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