FINANCIAL equality between England’s north and south should be written into law, a conference of northern political and business leaders heard today.

The Convention of the North held in Manchester condemned inequalities and unfairness surrounding the government’s much-vaunted Levelling Up scheme.

Speakers included Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll.

Last week, the government announced the latest Levelling Up fund winners, with some local authorities receiving funding and others none.

But the government denies skewing cash to Tory-held parliamentary constituencies and councils.

The convention also demanded an end to the practice of towns and cities bidding against each other for government cash.

Mr Burnham said: “Our own history has shown us that, too often, the north struggles to get to the top of the government’s to-do list whichever political party is in charge. 

“That’s why we need to hard-wire levelling up into law and unlock the potential of the north to help the whole country thrive.”

Mr Driscoll called for “the beauty pageant” of competitive bidding between councils to be banned.

Mr Coppard said: “If you live in Rotherham you’re likely to die five years earlier than if you live in Richmond. 

“If you live in Barnsley you’re paid £600 less a month than if you live in Berkshire.”

Mr Rotheram said Levelling Up “should be more about tackling entrenched inequalities than vanity projects and photo ops at shiny buildings.”

He said that funding is something “that must be above party politics.”

Ms Brabin said: “Last week, the government handed twice as much funding to London and the south-east than to Yorkshire, laying bare the fundamental flaws in its levelling-up agenda.”