THE 10 leaders of Greater Manchester’s borough councils — and the interim mayor of the region — have unanimously backed our campaign for fair devolution.

This week The Bolton News teamed up with the Manchester Evening News, the Wigan Evening Post and the Oldham Chronicle to challenge Chancellor George Osborne to provide the right funding to make the Devo-Manc deal work.

The government is committed to granting local leaders — including a new elected metro mayor — more power for key areas including transport, health and planning.

But there are concerns that the right level of cash might not arrive with those new powers and now leaders right across the conurbation are supporting our Fair Deal Devo campaign.

We are also asking for the local leaders, who make up the Greater Manchester ‘super council’ to be transparent as the process moves forward.

Police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd is also the interim mayor — tasked with getting the devolution ball rolling before an elected mayor takes the helm in 2017.

He said he is willing to “arm wrestle” the government for fair funding — but said it will be a long process.

On the subject of transparency, he added: “It’s essential the public knows what we’re doing in their name. People need to be able to comment when we get things right and get things wrong.”

Bolton Council leader Cliff Morris has previously thrown his weight behind the campaign, arguing that “devolution without the right funding is not devolution.”

His opposite number in Bury, Mike Connolly agreed, he said: “I really welcome and fully support this campaign.

“I have fought long and hard for a fair deal for Bury in the face of a system that rewards the leafy southern shires and it is vital that Greater Manchester as a whole also gets a fair deal.”

Oldham leader Jim McMahon said: “A lot is outside our control, and is reliant on the Chancellor and fair funding. But governance and how we do things is entirely within our control — this is about taking the responsibility that comes with that power.”

Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “I totally support the campaign. Greater Manchester is making a real commitment to deliver over the life of this parliament but we need the very real support to do so.

“I also agree with the challenge to the combined authority itself. It’s now a relatively mature political organisation and it does need to be far more open and far more transparent.”