Tories insist they've delivered 'huge investment' to Greater Manchester

The Conservatives say they've delivered 'huge investment' in Greater Manchester. The party has responded to a special report by the Manchester Evening News which looks at how the lives of Mancunians have changed over the 14 years the Tories have been in power.

While Greater Manchester has grown, symbolised by the ever-changing skyline, the M.E.N. reported many have been left behind. Poverty has increased, public services have deteriorated and, at times, it has felt as though police have withdrawn from communities.

Under the Conservatives, more power has been devolved to new regional mayors, like Andy Burnham whose London-style public transport system dubbed the Bee Network has been backed by more than £1bn of government funding.

However, at the same time, local councils have had to slash their budgets while Greater Manchester's NHS has also faced financial difficulties with a £180m deficit.

READ MORE: After 14 years of Tory rule, is Manchester any Greater?

Responding to the M.E.N.'s report, the Conservative Party pointed to Greater Manchester's new investment zone as an example of the Tories' support for the city-region. The party also boasted that GMP has recruited 1,200 more police officers since 2019, - but this follows years of cuts which means that the number of officers in the force only returned to 2010 levels in March this year.

Promising to 'level up every corner of the country', the Conservatives also accused Labour of threatening to claw back £1bn of levelling up funding for various projects across the country. Labour has denied this claim describing it as a 'blatant lie to voters'.

The party also took aim at Greater Manchester's mayor, accusing him of 'wasting' almost £100m on the Clean Air Zone plans. All