BOLTON MP David Crausby has challenged the chancellor to give the people of Greater Manchester the right to vote on whether they want an elected mayor to govern over the region.

Speaking during a session of treasury questions in the House of Commons, Mr Crausby asked why a region that is bigger than other countries in the UK had not been offered the right to vote on such an important issue for its future.

Addressing George Osborne directly, Mr Crausby, who was re-elected as MP for the Bolton North East constituency in May, said: “Given that the population of Greater Manchester is bigger than that of Wales and Northern Ireland and not far short of the population of Scotland, why are the people of Greater Manchester being denied the opportunity to decide whether they want a directly elected mayor?

He added: “What is wrong with a constitutional referendum in England for a change?”

In response, Mr Osborne said: “I am sorry to hear that he is disagreeing with the Labour civic leadership across the authorities of Greater Manchester, they are elected of course and the elected national government came together to put together this deal.

“I think it will increase accountability in Greater Manchester because there will be an elected mayor who people can hold directly to account.”

In November last year, the chancellor and the leaders of Greater Manchester’s local authorities signed a historic devolution deal that will give local leaders greater powers over areas including transport, planning, housing and health.

Part of the deal included a newly created role of a directly elected Greater Manchester mayor, who will take up office after a vote in 2017.

Current police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd was last month appointed as the interim mayor for the region.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris, who will play a key role in the implementation of the newly devolved health budget for the region, previously said that the creation of an elected mayor would not have been his first option and that he believes the people of the region should be allowed a vote on the issue.