Today northern news publishers and leaders unite as one at the start of the 2019 election campaign - to tell those who wish to run the country what we truly need.

With the north front and centre of this election campaign, its voice should be too.

From truly affordable housing to genuinely functioning public transport, we want not only the investment we deserve but also the powers.

We don’t want to be told what we should have. It should be the other way around.

Each community is different, but as a whole our region has long been short-changed and neglected under policies that prioritise investment in the south east.

And we have seen deeper and more brutal cuts under austerity, leaving us with even greater inequality to solve.

(Image: ANDREW STUART)

In Greater Manchester, we are suffering a housing crisis on an inhumane scale. A broken, under-funded, overpriced transport system that means we struggle to get to work, struggle to access services and struggle to grow our economy.

A shortage of good quality jobs that allow us to move forward and prosper. Local services that have taken an unfair and unequal hit of the national economic pain.

And an inability to shape our own destiny.

We have called on politicians before to power up the north - and locally, leaders agree.

Across geographies and parties, northern business and political leaders have today issued a northern manifesto that seeks the powers and investment to address our biggest problems.

On housing, they - and us - call for the affordable homes we truly need.

On transport, they - and us - call for a long-term, devolved budget to finally upgrade our faltering networks, including a firm commitment to all of Northern Powerhouse Rail, the plan for a new northern network of modern train links.

On jobs, they - and us - call for the north to have power over education and training, so local skills can be properly matched up to business needs and create green, future-proof employment.

And on the economy, they - and us - call for any incoming Chancellor to make re-balancing the economy a formal economic target, one they will be measured on by the Office of Budget Responsibility.

It is a manifesto supported by leaders, businesses and news outlets from Wigan to Workington, Hull to St Helen’s.

Listen to the first episode of the North Poll podcast in which the MEN's political editor Jen Williams hosts a panel of experts to discuss how and why the north will be front and centre of this winter election campaign

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “This general election must be a change election for the north of England.

“The time has come for the north to break free of the shackles of a London-centric Parliament and take more control over its own destiny.

“People here feel a deep sense of frustration that our political system has not worked as well as for us as it has for others. It has left us with a second-class transport service, a housing crisis and a deep north-south divide.

“But despite that, northern political and business leaders share a positive belief in the potential of our region and its incredible people.

“We are optimistic about our future. The fact that we have come together across geographical and political divides to make this unprecedented call for change is a clear demonstration of our feeling.”

Roger Marsh, chair of the NP11 group of northern business leaders, said the plan marks the north ‘coming together with one voice’ to outline its ambition to any future government.

“Our region led the first industrial revolution and today it can become the crucible for the fourth - and first sustainable - industrial revolution, but only if we take critical action now.”

This is not a party political call, but one that bangs the same drum in unison: we do not want short-term, simplistic, unfulfilled promises, but real change for our communities, a genuine understanding of their needs.

The 2019 general election is not just about political parties telling us what we need and want. That has been the case for too long - and it hasn’t worked.

This election must also be about them listening to us, united around one common goal: powering up the north.