Andy Burnham gushed about the project after flying in on a Government jet from Scotland, where he attended the Commonwealth Games opening last night.

So-called 'King of the North' Andy Burnham is adamant he will work from Manchester - where his family lives and he used to be mayor - at least one day a week.

New PM Andy Burnham announced his ambition to create a northern branch of Downing Street in Manchester last month to stop power being hoarded in Westminster