MINISTERS are short-changing Manchester to the tune of £1 billion with plans to impose a new devolved mayoral system of local government, mayoral hopeful Andy Burnham said yesterday.

Tory “devo-Manc” plans would hand over responsibilities and financial governance of public services such as the NHS to an elected mayor.

Opponents point out that people in the regions affected haven’t been asked if they want such a change, while raising fears that the Tories’ long-term aim is to reduce central government funding to the regions and blame local Labour politicians for the resultant cuts to services.