Osborne: Theresa May 'had a wobble' over Northern Powerhouse project

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Former chancellor George Osborne Credit: Press Association

Former chancellor George Osborne has said that Theresa May had a "wobble" over his Northern Powerhouse project after becoming Prime Minister.

The Tatton MP's comment, as he launched a new think-tank to drive the scheme forward, is the clearest indication yet that he had to fight to keep his flagship policy on track after being sacked from the Government in July.

He announced that he has recruited the former mayor of New York, billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg, to advise the powerful new elected "metro" mayors being created in city regions including Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

Mr Osborne will chair the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, an independent group, including politicians and business leaders, to help push the agenda of greater powers and investment for the regions to boost jobs and growth.

The future of the initiative, launched by Mr Osborne in 2014, came under question after Mrs May's arrival in 10 Downing Street in July.

She initially appeared reluctant to use the phrase "Northern Powerhouse", speaking instead of a broader nationwide industrial strategy, rather than a regional focus solely on the north.

Theresa May Credit: Press Association

And senior Labour politicians in the north have recently spoken of Whitehall briefings casting doubt on the new Prime Minister's commitment to the agenda.Mr Osborne told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think, to be honest, there was a little bit of a wobble when we had the new administration about whether they were still committed to the concept of the Northern Powerhouse."

The Northern Powerhouse aims to devolve powers and money from Whitehall to northern city regions in a bid to boost their economic performance.

Plans included new investment in north-south high-speed rail, HS2, and an east-west version, HS3, linking the belt of northern cities from Liverpool to Hull, via Manchester and Leeds.

The plans also included the election of 'metro' mayors for bigger city regions, including for Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.