May pledges homes cash to region
THE Prime Minister made a low-key return to Manchester following her disastrous speech at the Conservative Party Conference in the city - as she promised extra cash to tackle homelessness and build ‘thousands’ more houses.
Theresa May came to Manchester to speak to Mayor Andy Burnham about a £3.8m pot to help end rough sleeping and a ‘new housing deal’ for the region.
She was driven to Churchgate House - Mr Burnham’s new HQ - but didn’t show her face as she was ushered inside. Few details were released ahead of Mrs May’s fleeting visit.
She did confirm that Greater Manchester will receive £3.8m to tackle homelessness.
A new housing deal for the region was also announced, though what it will involve remains a mystery.
The deal is expected to be agreed early next year and will help increase the number of homes in ‘areas of high demand’.
Number 10 said the deal will help build thousands more homes but an actual number has not been specified.
The homelessness cash, a share of a £10m pot first announced by the government in December last year, will help Mr Burnham in his plan to end rough sleeping in the region by 2020.
The mayor said he also tackled the Prime Minister on the controversial roll-out of Universal Credit and her commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
“The money that the government has announced is welcome,” Mr Burnham said.
“It will help us go further, faster.
“But I cannot say that it will solve everything, because it will not.
“There will be a housing deal for Greater Manchester, but it does not yet add up to a major commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.”