New UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised a new Manchester-Leeds rail route to “unleash regional growth” in a speech in Manchester.

A new Trans-Pennine rail route between Manchester and Leeds was promised as Johnson set out a domestic agenda to “turbo-charge regional growth and prosperity.”

Johnson said: “I want to be the PM who does with Northern Powerhouse Rail what we did with Crossrail in London.

“And today I am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the Leeds to Manchester route.

“It will be up to local people and us to come to an agreement on the exact proposal they want – but I have tasked officials to accelerate their work on these plans so that we are ready to do a deal in the autumn.”