George Osborne persuades Theresa May to back his Northern Powerhouse vision

George Osborne has forced Theresa May into declaring her full support for his flagship Northern Powerhouse vision.

After the sacked Chancellor set up a campaign group to pressurise the government to hold to his commitments to rebalance the economy, the PM has promised to fight continue the plans.

Writing in the Manchester Evening News, Mrs May pledged that she “will ensure the whole machinery of government gets behind it.”

Her gushing praise was in a stark contrast to her early wobbles on the issue.

In a significant win for the new backbencher, Mrs May added that the “mission of this government” will be “backing business growth right across the North.”

She also promised to give “our great cities the power and resources they need to reach their potential.”

Last week George Osborne launched the Nothern Powerhouse Partnership — backed by businesses to forge new strength for the north of England’s economy.

Following the launch of the group in Manchester, Mr Osborne was tipped to make a bid to become the new Mayor of the city.

But yesterday he but scotch to the rumours, saying he was “flattered by the interest and committed to making the new Greater Manchester mayor a success, but I will do that from the House of Commons, not the town hall.”