“Additional to that £12bn there was £5bn for what Steve (Rotheram) calls 5.1, what he calls a cut price option for the Liverpool end, so add it together, £17bn, that was confirmed by the last government, that’s what we’re working with. That’s the position we have got and nothing and nobody has contacted us to say anything different.”

The mayors of Manchester and Liverpool on Monday published plans for a new railway between the two northern English cities, raising pressure on the Labour government to deliver on promises to raise investment.

Andy Burnham has admitted his plans to build a new railway from Liverpool to Manchester relies on government funding — hours after the Transport Secretary said the cash isn’t there. The Greater Manchester Mayor,

Previous Conservative government promised huge cash injection for major rail project between north west cities - but new Labour transport boss says cash is not currently available