LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has welcomed a plan to give the north a greater say in Brexit negotiations.

The 47-year-old said he was ‘surprised but pleased’ to hear the Government’s Brexit secretary David Davies announce that he will convene a meeting of all the north's mayors on the negotiations after May’s landmark elections.

Mr Burnham is hoping to become the first elected Greater Manchester mayor after securing the Labour nomination for the vote last year.

Following Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech in Parliament this week, in which she laid out her plan for the Brexit negotiations, Mr Burnham complained of a London-centric right-wing approach to leaving the European Union.

He told the House of Commons that Mrs May’s speech had contained no mention of English regions and challenged Mr Davis to create a Brexit committee of the nations and regions.

The Brexit secretary replied with the unexpected announcement regarding a meeting with all mayors in the north.

Mr Burnham said: “I am surprised but pleased to hear this commitment. The regions cannot be shut out of this any longer.

“I support reform of freedom of movement, but in a way that does least damage to the economy and in particular the regional economy.

“The Prime Minister’s speech made specific mention of protecting the interests of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and the City of London. But there was no mention at all of the North West of England, Greater Manchester or any English region.

“Rather than leaving these crucial decisions to a London-centric right-wing clique around the Prime Minister it is time to open up the debate, give Greater Manchester a voice in it and establish a Brexit committee of the nations and regions.”

The Greater Manchester mayoral elections will take place on May 4.

The other candidates are Sean Anstee (Conservative), Jane Brophy (Liberal Democrats), Stephen Morris (English Democrats) and Shneur Odze (UKIP).