'In true Manchester form, we want to have our cake and eat it'

Manchester wants to have its cake and eat it, the council leader has said as she sets out her 10-year vision for the city's economy. Bev Craig has told the M.E.N. that she wants Manchester's economic success story to continue, but to spread the benefits all over the city.

The Labour councillor, who took over the top job at the town hall nearly two years ago, said she wants more high-paying jobs to be created by attracting businesses from across the globe to the city centre. But once they're here, she wants all Mancunians to benefit.

Manchester council's new economic strategy is less 'trickle down's and more interventionist', she explained, with growth not just focused on the city centre. The leader said she wants more economic growth, but without the 'high levels of inequality' we have.

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The local authority has spoken to people living and working all over Manchester about its new economic strategy as well as looking abroad to learn lessons from other cities. Coun Craig said: "Frankfurt statistically is one of the most productive cities in the world.

"But without being unkind to Frankfurt, it's not a very culturally rich or exciting or vibrant place to live. You could work there, but you don't necessarily enjoy spending time there.

"That, for me, is kind of the opposite of what Manchester wants. We want good jobs, we want to keep people and attract people.

"We don't want to be a city that you just go to for a night out and a laugh. We want to have a mixture.

"In true Manchester form, we want to have our cake and eat it."

Over the next decade, the town hall is expecting