Sir Keir Starmer has risked “digging himself a grave” and fuelling further support for Andy Burnham by delaying plans to invest in the north’s railway network, insiders have said.

The Prime Minister is facing an increasingly bold challenge from the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester ahead of the party’s conference in Liverpool, which begins on Sunday.

It was expected that the Prime Minister would use the conference to confirm his support for new rail investment between Liverpool and Manchester – one of Burnham’s top priorities – and give the pair an opportunity to show a united front. New Feature

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However, BBC News reported on Wednesday night that the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) announcement – initially expected to be unveil

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