The pivotal Greater Manchester place where would-be Prime Ministers keep coming back

Its a venue which has seen the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair in the past. Today, it welcomed the next person who wants to become the UK's Prime Minister.

Sir Keir Starmer summoned the nation's press to The Fusilier Museum in Bury this morning (June 3) where he set out Labour's position on defence, promising that under his 'changed' party, national security will 'always come first'. It comes just three days after the man he hopes to replace at 10 Downing Street - Rishi Sunak - visited the town to make his pitch to voters in this key election battleground.

The Conservatives clinched the Bury North constituency in 2019, beating Labour by just 105 votes - making it the most marginal seat in Britain at the last general election. Mr Sunak - who received a mixed reception at Burrs Country Park on Friday (May 31) - said he is 'confident' the Conservatives will hold onto seats in the North West where two of his Tory MPs have joined Labour since the last poll.

READ MORE: The last-minute Labour candidates standing to be Greater Manchester MPs

Despite these endorsements, Sir Keir is still at pains to convince voters across the region - many of whom shed lifelong allegiances to Labour last time around - that his party has changed. Flanked by former armed forces personnel who are standing for the party at this election, he set out his 'triple lock' commitment to nuclear deterrents, which includes building four new submarines in the North West.

But the Labour leader also faces a battle on another front after losing several council seats in Greater Manchester over the war in Gaza just last month. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after his speech, Sir Keir said he is 'determined' to win voters back.

"We are a