Boris Johnson today pledged to pump billions of pounds into new Northern rail links and 'left behind' towns - as he fueled election fever by parking his tanks firmly on Jeremy Corbyn's lawn.

The new PM continued the breakneck start to his time in No10 by announcing the government will fund a new trans-Pennine rail route between Manchester and Leeds.

He said that was 'just the beginning' of his transport investment, backing a plan to connect cities from Liverpool to Hull.

Mr Johnson also unveiled plans for a major £3.6billion fund for towns - seemingly aimed at Leave-backing areas that have traditionally voted Labour.

The scheme is an upgrade on a similar £1.6billion initiative pushed by Theresa May as she scrambled to sell her Brexit deal.

Boris Johnson launched a charm offensive on the North in a speech in Manchester, as he continues the breakneck start to his time in No10

Before the speech, Mr Johnson visited the site of a new tram line in Manchester and spoke to construction workers

Mr Johnson said wanted to end the 'long-term decline' across much of the North - 'levelling up' the UK with better housing, services and infrastructure so it becomes the 'best country to live in the world'.

In a brazen pitch to Labour's disaffected heartlands, Mr Johnson said they had been 'failed' by politicians and the referendum had been as much about 'taking back control' from Westminster as the EU.

Mr Johnson insisted mayors in cities like Manchester should be handed the same powers as in London, as he vowed to boost the devolution agenda.

Mr Johnson (pictured speaking in Manchester today) also unveiled plans for a major £3.6billion fund for towns - seemingly aimed at Leave-backing areas that have traditionally voted Labour

He said Brexit was an opportunity to 'change the direction' of the UK' and insisted the public wanted him to 'get on with' cutting ties to the EU, with or without a deal.

Doubling down on his solemn promise to press ahead with No Deal by Halloween if necessary, Mr Johnson said: 'I think the people of this country would rather get on with it and come out on October 31.'

However, the premier was forced to deny that he was making a swathe of expensive commitments that he cannot deliver - insisting his plans were 'pretty reasonable'.

The new PM continued the breakneck start to his time in No10 by announcing the government will fund a new trans-Pennine rail route between Manchester and Leeds. He said that was 'just the beginning' of his transport investment, backing a £39billion plan to connect cities from Liverpool to Hull (pictured in green). The full details of the route and the costs are expected to be published in the autumn following a review of HS2 (in orange)

Boris spotted with shoe lace untied As if politics wasn't enough of an awkward balancing act already, newly appointed PM Boris Johnson was spotted walking a fine line with his shoelace untied. Mr Johnson was in Manchester earlier today to announce a new trans-Pennine rail route between Manchester and Leeds. But before his speech at Science and Industry Museum, Mr Johnson made a visit to the site of a new tram line in Manchester and spoke to construction workers. During the tour he was spotted clumsily walking down a low concrete wall with the lace of his right shoe undone. Later on, he continued making his raft of spending pledges by backing a £39billion plan to connect cities from Liverpool to Hull. Mr Johnson also unveiled plans for a major £3.6billion fund for towns - seemingly aimed at Leave-backing areas that have traditionally voted Labour. The new policies were met with some skepticism from journalists questioning his ability to pay for the schemes. Advertisement

Mr Johnson tried to quash mounting speculation about a looming general election last night, making clear he had no plans to call one.

But the high octane start to his premiership, together with his uncompromising pledges on Brexit, and the government's majority have set alarm bells ringing in Westminster.

Jeremy Corbyn has been demanding a national poll, despite Labour struggling to avoid being torn apart by Brexit divisions and the raging anti-Semitism crisis.

What has Boris Johnson announced on rail? Boris Johnson said the new trans-Pennine link would 'turbo-charge the economy'. It is claimed the Leeds-Manchester plans would cut journey times on the 36-mile route from 50 minutes to under half an hour. The full details of the route and the costs are expected to be published in the autumn following a review of HS2. Mr Johnson has made a wider commitment to deliver a high-speed railway link running from east to west across the north of England. The idea of connecting cities such as Liverpool, Hull, and Sheffield would cost around £39billion. It was first mooted by then-chancellor George Osborne as part of his Northern Powerhouse strategy. He claimed it would allow the cities to 'to take on the world', but since then little progress has been made - with Mr Osborne blaming Theresa May. Advertisement

Labour's Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said today that it 'feels like' an election is imminent.

In a bold pitch to Brext-backing areas that have traditionally been Labour heartlands, Mr Johnson said: 'The centre of Manchester, like the centre of London, is a wonder of the world.

'A few miles away from here the story is very different.

'The story has been for young people growing up there of hopelessness, or the hope that one day they will get out and never come back.

'The crucial point is it certainly isn't really the fault of the places, and certainly isn't the fault of the people growing up there.

'They haven't failed. It's we, us, the politicians, our politics has failed them.'

He added: 'We are going now to have a £3.6billion Town's Fund supporting an initial 100 towns, so that they will get the improved transport and the improved broadband connectivity that they need.'

Mr Johnson received a spontaneous round of applause when he spoke about why he campaigned to leave the EU.

Several audience members clapped when he said: 'I believe it's a chance to change the direction of the UK.

'Leaving the EU is a massive opportunity.'

The Pennine link move is part of wider pledge to strengthen the bonds that hold the country together in the wake of the divisive Brexit referendum.

Mr Johnson set out the four 'ingredients' for the success of the UK as livability, connectivity, culture, and power and responsibility.

He said this means areas having great public services, enough affordable homes, safe streets, fast broadband, and more responsibility and accountability for local areas.

What will happen during the PM's first months in power? July 27: Boris Johnson makes keynote speech on rail infrastructure in Manchester. August 1: Brecon and Radnorshire by-election. Tory candidate Chris Davies is seeking to regain the seat he was ousted from by a recall petition triggered in the wake of his conviction for submitting false expenses claims. If he fails, the new prime minister's working majority in the Commons will be cut to just three. August 24: G7 Summit in Biarritz. The new prime minister's first appearance at a major global summit. Donald Trump will be among the world leaders at the gathering, potentially providing the opportunity for a meeting with the controversial US president in an effort to highlight the importance of the special relationship and a future trade deal. September: The UN General Assembly meeting in New York will provide another opportunity for the new prime minister to appear on the global stage and set out their vision for the country's place in the world. - September 29 to October 2: Conservative Party Conference. The gathering in Manchester will be a key test of the new Tory leader's ability to unite the party and provides a platform to use their closing speech to address the nation. October 17-18: EU summit. This is the last schedule meeting of EU leaders before the UK is due to leave the bloc - although an emergency gathering could be called before or afterwards. October 31: The deadline for reaching a Brexit deal. Unless there is a further extension, this will be the UK's last day as a member of the European Union and it will leave, with or without an agreement. Advertisement

He added: 'I want to set out what I think are the ingredients for the success of the UK, the places we call home whether it's our cities or our towns, our coastal communities or rural areas.

'We are going to give greater powers to council leaders and communities.

'We are going to level up the powers offered to mayors so more people can benefit from the kind of local structures seen in London and here in Manchester.'

Mr Johnson pledged to go ahead with the Northern Powerhouse rail - a wider scheme that would extend high-speed links to Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield - because the return on investment for the country would be 'colossal'.

He said the Leeds-Manchester line was 'just the beginning of our investment'.

'We want to see this whole thing done,' he said.

Mr Johnson added: 'Yes, we want to go ahead with the Northern Powerhouse rail.

'I think the return on investment for this country would be colossal and if you want to drive the economy and if you want to create for business the platform that gives them the certainty to invest then you need fantastic public infrastructure.

'That is the way to do it.'

Before the speech, Mr Johnson visited the site of a new tram line in Manchester and spoke to construction workers.

The Prime Minister donned a hard hat, hi-vis jacket and safety boots for the visit to the new Trafford Park Line.

During the 10-minute visit, Mr Johnson spoke to Alex Cropper, head of operations for Transport for Greater Manchester, Barry White, chief executive for Transport for the North, and Jake Berry, Northern Powerhouse Minister.

The new 5.5km line will extend the current Eccles tram line to the Trafford Centre and include six new stops.

The £350million line has been paid for with funding from the Government as part of Manchester's devolution deal.

As Mr Johnson left the site, he jumped up on to the tram track and walked along the edge to the end of the line.

In his speech today, he pledged to 'improve the unglamorous local services which people use every day', such as buses.

He said improving the economy means focusing on 'services within cities, not just services between cities'.

He added: 'I want that to start now, with improvements that can happen in the short term, not just big engineering schemes that will take years.'

The Prime Minister donned a hard hat, hi-vis jacket and safety boots for the visit to the new Trafford Park Line

The £3.6billion fund for 'left behind' areas improves upon Theresa May's proposals for a 'strong towns fund', unveiled earlier this year - which earmarked £1.6billion.

But his predecessor was using the cash to win over Labour MPs to back her Brexit deal, whereas Mr Johnson wants to charm voters turned off by Jeremy Corbyn's vacillation over Brexit.

But the flagship announcement was backing for a new route across the Pennines to improve services which critics say have suffered from years of under-investment.

Mr Johnson was wearing a hard hat but appeared to have forgotten to tie his shoelaces today as he toured the construction site

The plans will not be published until the autumn, after a review into the £56billion HS2 has been carried out.

Mr Johnson said local people would take the lead on the 'exact proposal' they want, which could be a brand new route, or new tracks laid alongside existing lines.

He will say: '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.

'I will pave the way for post-Brexit trade deal with US': Dominic Raab will fly to Washington within weeks to step up negotiations and says 'Brussels isn't the only game in town'

BY LARISSA BROWN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

The new Foreign Secretary has warned the EU that Britain will step up trade negotiations with the US and others before the October deadline.

Dominic Raab said he will fly to Washington in the coming weeks to 'pave and clear' the way for a trade deal with President Trump.

In an interview with the Times, he said: 'We want a strong relationship with our European friends and partners.. but we also want to raise our horizons.

'Brussels isn't the only game in town.'

Dominic Raab, pictured leaving Downing Street after being appointed Foreign Secretary has warned Brussels that they will be blamed if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal

Raab said: 'Brussels isn't the only game in town.' He said Britain would strike a trade deal with US President Donald Trump, pictured here in the Oval Office

Talks with rival trade partners is a breach of the 'principle of sincere co-operation' that is supposed to bind those countries in negotiation with the bloc.

Mr Raab, who is also Mr Johnson's deputy, said it would be the EU's choice 'if we've left on WTO terms' on October 31.

'We are making it clear there's a deal to be done, but the EU needs to move,' he said.

He added: 'It would be totally unrealistic - an ivory tower perspective - to think that after a deal that has failed at least three times in the Commons, which has precipitated the resignation of the prime minister and leadership contest, which has been based around this issue, that somehow we're going to airbrush all that aside and that there would go back to the previous deal.'

Asked whether the abolition of the Irish backstop is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a new deal, he said: 'I think that's right.'

Last night prime minister Boris Johnson (pictured in Birmingham) spoke to Donald Trump, who congratulated him on his new role

He said the backstop is 'most obvious glaring flaw in the deal...but there are other issues. What I'm not going to do at this particularly sensitive moment is put all of the conversations that we're going to have on this in the public domain'.

Mr Raab also said the previous government had spent too long saying it would extend which resulted in 'telegraphing weakness and the wrong signals to Brussels'.

He added: 'And I think they ought to have a very clear signal right across all the key players in the cabinet that we're serious about this. But I also said equally in the same breath that we didn't think it was necessary, likely or desirable.'

Mr Raab, who is also Mr Johnson's deputy, said it would be the EU's choice 'if we've left on WTO terms' on October 31

He said he had spoken to Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State in his first two days in the job.

He said: 'I explained how pleased we were to have a US administration, including the president, speaking so warmly about this country.

'We've got a president who has spoken about this country with the kind of warmth we haven't heard for quite a long period of time.

'Now people will have their views and it's quite right that in domestic politics, pundits and politicians are [free to] express them about any leader.

'But I'm delighted that we've got a US president talking about this country with such warmth.'

Last night prime minister Boris Johnson spoke to Donald Trump, who congratulated him on his new role.

The pair said Brexit offered an 'unparalleled opportunity' to boost economic ties between the two nations.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'They discussed the important relationship between our countries and the President's successful State Visit to the UK last month.

'They agreed that Brexit offers an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen the economic partnership between the UK and United States.

'The leaders both expressed their commitment to delivering an ambitious free trade agreement and to starting negotiations as soon as possible after the UK leaves the EU.

'The Prime Minister and the President also discussed the current tensions with Iran and the need to work together and with partners to address their destabilising behaviour in the Gulf.' They ended the call by saying they looked forward to seeing each other at the G7 Summit in Biarritz next month.